A health care inquiry that is looking into allegations of preferential treatment for vaccinations in 2009 is underway in Calgary.
On Monday, more evidence was presented about the private H1N1 vaccination clinic that was held for members of the Calgary Flames hockey club.
A clinic manager testified at the inquiry and says she lost her job after the scandal broke.
“My manager colleague at the site, Dorothy was aware, the vaccine coordinators were aware, the nurses were aware that I was going off site, yes,” said Debbie Hyman.
Hyman, who managed the Brentwood H1N1 clinic, told the inquiry that there were long lines for vaccinations and that people were angry.
She says there were fights and that she called Calgary police because she felt unsafe.
Hyman says when a clinic nurse came to her with an idea for a separate clinic for the Calgary Flames, she thought it was a good idea because having the players show up to wait in line would only add to the chaos.
Hyman says she left a telephone message for her immediate supervisor telling her that plans were in place for the special Flames clinic and that unless she heard otherwise, she would go ahead with it. She went on to say that she thought she had permission.
Lori Anderson was AHS Vice-President of Community and Rural Health at the time of the incident and says she was completely astounded when she heard about the special treatment for the team.
Anderson says she was denying other clinic requests from various groups including senior’s homes.
“My initial reaction, when I first found out, I was completely astounded. We were vaccinating in the mass venues,” said Anderson.
Anderson says the decision to grant the special clinic wasn't made by anyone higher that Hyman and her supervisor and says she believed it would have been good for morale to have the players wait in line for their shots with everyone else.
