CFL not jumping H1N1 vaccine queue

Canadian Football League players do not seem to be jumping the queue for H1N1 shots.

That’s the result of a survey by CBC Sports across the country on Thursday in the wake of revelations that some National Hockey League teams have obtained the inoculations for players and staff ahead of those considered in the most vulnerable groups to the virus.

But that does not seem to be the case in the CFL.

“We are just following procedures established by the public health authority here in Quebec,” said a spokesman for the Montreal Alouettes, who added players with young children have been told they and their families would qualify.

“But they would have to show up to one of the vaccination centres near their homes.”

Players in Toronto, Regina and Edmonton have been told the same thing by their clubs.

“We have advised the players of the process to get shots, but have not taken any special steps [to obtain it],” said a spokeswoman in Toronto.

Edmonton Eskimos players were given the standard flu shot available to the public, but not the H1N1 vaccine.

Alberta was set to open a clinic at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Thursday, the team said, but the Eskimos have been told if they want one for their young families they will have to line up, and meet the criteria, like everyone else.

CBC News in Calgary was told by the Stampeders on Wednesday that they too have not received shots.

Matt Maychak, the CFL’s vice-president of communications, told CBC Sports the league sent out a survey a week ago asking whether H1N1 inoculations had been administered, and they all came back negative.

On Wednesday the club’s presidents were asked on their regular weekly conference call and they confirmed the earlier survey that no-one had jumped the line, Maychak said.