NHL should wait its turn Crashing line for life-saving vaccine just isn't fine By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 7:00 PM CST Friday, Dec. 11, 2020

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/12/2020 (1379 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Here’s the thing about human nature: we can be an extremely selfish species, typically willing to cut corners wherever possible if it boosts our own bottom line. It happens everywhere we go, from the lineup at the grocery store or merging into traffic to the boarding process at the airport or even that round of golf with your buddies.

Give us an inch, we’ll try to take a mile — and often lie to your face about it, without hesitation or remorse.

Professional hockey players are just as guilty of it, too. Ever watch closely what happens during a faceoff? Everyone cheats. It’s why linesman are constantly throwing guys out of the dot like bouncers in a rowdy pub after last call. Those who cheat best, and most subtly, are the ones who prosper.

Disappointed? Yes. Angered? Absolutely. Surprised? Hell no.

With that in mind, we shouldn’t be surprised to hear that these unsavoury laws of the jungle are likely going to be in play when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine. Those with deep pockets may be looking to buy their way to the front of the line. That could very well include the NHL, which is reportedly looking to secure the private purchase of enough drugs to make an impact on a new hockey season expected to begin next month.

Disappointed? Yes. Angered? Absolutely. Surprised? Hell no.

If you think the vaccine program is going to be this smooth, Pollyannaish process where everyone politely and patiently waits their turn, then I’m not sure what planet you’ve been living on. Fact is, this is likely going to be a chaotic, at times blatantly unfair system, one which adversely benefits those with the biggest bank accounts.

Welcome to the dark side of capitalism, folks. Not that we haven’t been here before in the NHL.

I take you back to 2009, when H1N1 was ravaging the population, especially elderly patients, and the Calgary Flames quietly secured the services of a private clinic for 150 players, staff and family members to get immunized, well before all high-risk members of the public had been protected owing to scarce resources.

It led to a provincial inquiry and well-deserved backlash against the hockey team. In fact, prior to longtime broadcaster John Shannon dropping the NHL COVID-19 bombshell on Twitter Thursday night, I had already seen plenty of jokes on social media asking if the Flames had already been vaccinated.

News flash: nobody’s laughing now.

Doctors are already on record saying they suspect the NHL, and other pro sports leagues, will try to secure a private purchase as quickly as possible, and the Public Health Agency of Canada told TSN this week they can’t stop pharmacy companies from engaging in “private enterprise” in addition to the contracts they have with governments around the world.

The NHL interest is obvious. They would be protecting their considerable investment in a season, ensuring games don’t get postponed or cancelled because of players contracting the virus, which we’ve seen happen in other leagues such as the NFL and MLB.

Such an arrangement would be fine if everyone who desperately needs to get immunized already had their shot and there was more than enough to go around, which will eventually be the case. But as we know, the initial rollout is going to take considerable time, and even the most vulnerable such as health-care workers and the elderly in care homes will have to wait patiently owing to limited supplies.

Which is why under no circumstance should a healthy NHL player be vaccinated before those who truly need it. None. As much as we love sports, they are not essential. Canadian and U.S. governments should not allow this to happen, even though I suspect they are powerless given they don’t own the vaccine.

But if you’re the NHL, or anyone with a moral compass for that matter, just because Big Pharma is apparently willing to let the highest bidders jump the proverbial queue doesn’t mean you should. If the league wants to use its power and influence to buy some vaccine and send it straight to the front lines, by all means go right ahead. But if they’re doing it so they can ensure a first-liner gets it, then prepare to pay a steep price in the court of public opinion.

A Winnipeg paramedic, who I respect deeply, is also one of the biggest Jets fans I know. His message to me on Friday was rather succinct, and summarized many similar messages I’ve received.

“My colleagues and I in health care have been struggling for months to try and contain this s–t. The weight of it is physically and mentally draining. If this happens as described, I will not be renewing my seats,” he said.

“My colleagues and I in health care have been struggling for months to try and contain this s–t. The weight of it is physically and mentally draining. If this happens as described, I will not be renewing my seats”
– Winnipeg paramedic

I suspect the suits within the NHL went apoplectic at Shannon’s tweet, and it’s noteworthy he issued a “clarification” later in the evening that stated the NHL insists they won’t “jump the line” to do so. But if they are truly trying to do a private vaccination deal for the coming season, it’s hard to see how that wouldn’t be the case.

In this case, timing will be everything. At the very least, our spidey senses should be tingling right now, especially considering the league doesn’t have a sterling track record in this department.

It’s one thing for hockey players to try to find every advantage when it comes to winning possession of the puck. But it’s an entirely different matter when it comes to getting their hands on a life-saving vaccine.

The NHL should have to wait its turn and play by the same set of rules as the rest of society.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg