Some Leafs, Raptors sport H1N1 shots

Some members of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors have been given H1N1 flu shots, news that comes amid a public outcry over vaccinations received by members of the Calgary Flames.

When asked by CBC Sports reporter Simon Dingley if members of the Leafs had been inoculated, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment spokeswoman Rajani Kamath said in an emailed statement: “While all professional athletes are considered high risk to exposure and transmission of the flu due to excessive contact with other players, heavy travel requirements and public exposure, only certain players and staff have received the H1N1 vaccine.”

MLSE issued the same statement when asked by the Toronto Star if Raptors had received the vaccine.

In Ontario, only priority groups — those who are at a higher risk of developing complications from the virus than the general public — are currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

In the 10 days since the vaccine was first doled out, many of these people have had to contend with hours-long lineups.

But MLSE maintains neither the Leafs nor the Raptors jumped the queue for the vaccine.

“Similar to other physician offices, any vaccine supplies received were obtained through normal distribution and no preferential treatment was requested nor received,” the MLSE statement said.

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews said that regardless of which team they play for, athletes at present can be vaccinated in the province only if they belong to one of the priority groups.

But Matthews conceded that hundreds — perhaps thousands — of H1N1 vaccine doses have already been sent to doctors’ offices and private clinics, and the Ministry of Health has no way of tracking where they’ve gone.

The vaccines may have been administered while the teams were travelling in the United States. If that were the case, they wouldn’t be butting in front of Ontarians who have yet to receive the shot.

But MLSE is refusing to say how members of both the Leafs and Raptors got the shots.

“Consistent with other medical information or cases, this information is considered private and confidential,” the statement said.

Leaf players Matt Stajan, Jason Blake and Phil Kessel all declined comment when asked Wednesday if they received the shot.

The Alberta government, meanwhile, is investigating how some Flames players and their families received the shots at a special clinic with the help of Alberta Health Services. On Saturday, one day after the Flames were vaccinated, the province abruptly suspended its clinics because of a vaccine shortage.

The government said Wednesday an Alberta Health Services staff member has been fired for approving the vaccinations.