November 4th, 2009 by MWilhelm

Hockey is a religion in Calgary. Players are frequently recognized in public, treated as idols, and often receive preferential treatment at bars and restaurants. But when they start taking medical treatment from everyday citizens, people forget their idol-worship and start to point fingers. The Alberta government has launched an investigation, following allegations that members of the Calgary Flames and their families received H1N1 vaccinations at a special clinic as thousands of people waited in line.

The team received their swine flu shots on Friday at a private location as public clinics across Alberta were jammed with people. According to Flames PresidentKen King, the organization requested the clinic based on recommendations from team doctors, who advised that players are at high risk of spreading the virus due to frequent physical contact and constant cross-border travel. Flames star Jerome Iginla has gone on record to say he was just following advice.

Mass clinics have been closed across the province since the weekend, after demand for the vaccination was too overwhelming to serve. Starting Thursday, only pregnant women and children under five years old will be eligible to get the vaccine. The Flames’ vaccinations, however, were administered before the new high-risk qualifications came into place.

Instead, the issue isn’t that the players weren’t allowed to receive the vaccine, but that they were given preferential “star treatment”. The vaccination was from the same supply as the private clinics, but some are claiming it was “inappropriately diverted.” Defenders are claiming that players may have been recognized at public clinics and this would cause further delays and increased hysteria. Meanwhile, Flames fans are just hoping that members of the Dallas Stars were forced to brave the public clinics.