Canadian Professional Athletes Accused of Queue Jumping for H1N1 Vaccines

Health Canada assured us months ago that Canada was well prepared for the H1N1 outbreak. They were confident that there would be enough vaccine for anyone who wanted it. We were told that H1N1 would not be a serious health risk in Canada. Health Canada generously offered that anyone who wanted to be immunized would receive the vaccine for free. Normally only the people in high risk groups, such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions receive their flu vaccinations at no cost. But no one could have foreseen how many people would be lining up so quickly.

An unexpected tragedy brought on panic among people who had not planned to get vaccinations for themselves and their children. A healthy 13 year old minor hockey player in Ontario died of the H1N1 virus. Suddenly Canadians realized that this virus could be more serious than we first expected, and they showed up in droves at flu clinics. Many more were turned away when the clinics ran out of the vaccine.

While Health Officials and politicians played the blame game, looking for a scape-goat to fire over the shortage of vaccine; physicians and health officials asked the general public to please respect the decisions to immunize only those in the high risk categories for now. Then rumours surfaced that private flu shot clinics were being set up to provide vaccine for the players, families, and staff of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, and the Calgary Flames ahead of the general public and priority patients. The Ottawa Senators, it was noted, will be waiting in line with other non-priority patients.

Les Greenberg of Canwest News Service quoted Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews, "I don't care who you are, how rich you are, how famous you are. If you're not in the priority group, get out of line and let the people who are in priority groups get their vaccination," she said. "We will be expanding access to vaccine as quickly as we have the supply available. In the meantime, the priority groups have got to go first."