NHL team gets swine flu shots while public waits

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) The Alberta province health minister wants to know if swine flu shots were "inappropriately diverted" to the Calgary Flames while thousands had to stand in line for hours for the vaccine.

Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert says he doesn't know where the NHL team got the vaccine, adding that Alberta Health Services is the only supplier in the province. Team president Ken King says the club contacted the department and asked for the clinic.

Health officials have begun an investigation into the special clinic, which was held for the players and their families last Friday.

Liepert says the vaccine would be diverted only with the approval of the chief medical officer of health, but he doesn't know if that was the case.

Alberta's opposition parties say professional ice hockey players shouldn't be getting the vaccine ahead of cancer patients and pregnant women.

Updated November 3, 2009