EDMONTON, Canada (AFP) - A senior Canadian health official was fired Wednesday for providing scarce swine flu shots to professional hockey players ahead of Canadians braving long lines for the vaccine.

According to a statement, a special clinic was conducted for the Flames last Friday while the public program was shut down on Saturday after long lines for treatment due to swelling demand.

The National Hockey League players, their families and team executives received the swine flu shots.

"The decision to allow preferential access to the Flames and their families was a serious error in judgment on the part of the staff involved," said Stephen Duckett, president of the board responsible for health delivery in Alberta province.

"The special treatment for the Flames and their families is unacceptable to us and contrary to all of our existing protocols and processes. I apologize for this breach of our duty to Albertans," he said.

Team captain Jarome Iginla said players had thought the vaccinations were arranged by the National Hockey League and would not have accepted them if they had known they were jumping the queue.

At least three NHL players have contracted the A(H1N1) virus. In Canada, the pandemic has contributed to 101 deaths, more than 1,600 hospitalizations and close to 300 critical care ward admissions, said Health Canada.

The federal government has so far distributed six million doses of vaccine. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq also vowed that every Canadian who wants to be immunized against the swine flu would be by year's end.