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Second person sacked in vaccine scandal

Alberta’s health board says a second person has been fired for helping set up a private clinic for Calgary Flames players and their families to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.

CALGARY — Alberta’s health board says a second person has been fired for helping set up a private clinic for Calgary Flames players and their families to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.

Alberta Health Services launched an investigation earlier this week into how the professional hockey players got the shots while thousands of Albertans waited in line.

The investigation found the health agency was approached by a member of the team’s medical staff early last week to see if a clinic could be made available.

The request was forwarded to a more senior staff member, who took it to a supervisor for approval.

The investigation found there was “no written record of approval to proceed and there is no process for authorization of the use of the H1N1 vaccine for this purpose, as it contradicts existing protocols and processes.”

The most senior health worker involved was fired earlier this week and health services said Friday a second staff member has also been sacked.

The health agency said no information will be released about the two people who were fired, for privacy reasons, and no further disciplinary action is being considered.

“An advisory has been sent reminding all AHS clinical personnel involved in the H1N1 vaccination campaign to ensure that it is understood that no exceptions will be made to existing protocols,” the news release said.

The health agency says the Flames management made the decision to get the shots based on a process they thought had been properly approved.