Flames brief fans on H1N1 vaccine controversy
Last Updated: Sunday, November 8, 2009 | 2:10 PM MT
CBC News
Members of the Calgary Flames were inoculated against H1N1 on Oct. 30 at a specially arranged clinic. (Tom Gannam/Associated Press)Officials with the Calgary Flames held a meeting with season ticket holders Saturday to answer their questions about members of the team receiving the H1N1 vaccine ahead of high-risk Albertans.
On Oct. 30, about 150 people associated with the NHL team were given the H1N1 vaccine at a special clinic, while Albertans in high-risk categories had to line up for hours at vaccination clinics.
Two Alberta Health Services managers were fired after word got out about the vaccinations.
Flames president and CEO Ken King said he wanted to hold the meeting so season ticket holders could get all the facts about what happened.
'This team has a very high profile and this is a very emotionally charged issue for everyone in our city, and everyone in our country, really.'—Calgary Flames CEO Ken King
"People were supportive. They wanted to understand things more. It [the meeting] served its purpose. They wanted to get a better understanding of what took place, the timing, how it took place, rationale, and that type of thing," he said.
Members of the media were not allowed inside the meeting, and most season tickets holders refused to speak to reporters as they left meeting.
One fan told CBC News it was a positive meeting, and that he doesn't have a problem with the players being vaccinated.
King said he's not surprised about the scrutiny his team has come under.
"There's a very broad level of reaction, all sorts, from support to pretty vitriolic negativity," he said.
"This team has a very high profile and this is a very emotionally charged issue for everyone in our city, and everyone in our country, really."
Last week, King said the players were given the shots because of the risks associated with frequent physical contact with other players and their frequent travel.
King said he would continue to communicate with fans and season ticket holders about the controversy as long as it's an issue for them.
