Half of P.E.I. Rocket junior hockey team ill
Elementary school vaccination program begins
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 11:34 PM AT
CBC News
Several P.E.I. Rockets players have become sick with the flu. (CBC)The coaching staff of the P.E.I. Rocket say about half of the junior hockey team are sick with the flu and they are not ruling out swine flu.
Assistant coach Corrado Micalef said the concern is keeping enough players healthy to keep the team on the ice.
"It seems to be getting a little bit worse every day with the number of players that seem affected, but we just don't know," he said. "Hopefully, everybody will be fine for the weekend where we don't have to cancel games, but that's out of our control."
The players have not been vaccinated against H1N1.
"We're in the same boat as everyone one else," said Micalef.
Players with another Quebec Major Junior Hockey Team, the Moncton Wildcats, were vaccinated against H1N1 even as thousands of high-risk people waited in lines across the country for the same shots. Two of their players have confirmed cases of swine flu.
In Alberta, a staff member was fired after an Alberta Health Services probe into why some members of the NHL Calgary Flames and their families received H1N1 shots without lining up at public clinics.
"When they become available and we're able to get them like everyone else, we'll give the players the shots," Micalef said.
QMJHL rules state that a team must have 16 healthy players able to go on the ice, or forfeit the game.
The P.E.I. Rocket have games on Saturday and Sunday.
"Hopefully it won't affect us during the game," said Matthew Hobbs, a player on the team. "We'll just go ahead and play hockey."
Management of the league's 18 teams are talking about the how they might manage game cancellations.
School vaccinations
The only H1N1 vaccines distributed Thursday on Prince Edward Island went to elementary school children in Grades 1 through 3.
Karen McInnis, whose son Ian is in Grade 2, said she was glad her child was finally getting his turn.
"I believe our children should have been top priority as well as teachers and health-care providers … that are dealing with our children," she said.
Many of the children were smiling as they licked their Popsicles and watched a movie after they were inoculated.
The principal of Somerset Elementary, one of the first schools where Public Health set up a clinic, said he was pleased it ran smoothly.
"This isn't a disruption, this is a need," said Derik Arsenault. "This is for the health of children and that's what we're here for, is to keep children healthy and safe and the education part comes with it."
Provincial health officials have not yet decided whether the children will need another half-dose of the vaccine in a few weeks.
