We continue with the topic of vaccines. Forgotten for months by the period between seasons, now is the time to count and see which players maintain their rejection of vaccination against the coronavirus. It really is something that has been handled with discretion from the beginning, but the new regulations in New York and San Francisco, where you cannot access the pavilions without having received at least one dose, have made the spotlight shine with greater intensity on those who refuse such preventive treatment.
We have the case of Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn and that of Andrew Wiggins in Golden State, who wanted to be exempted from the vaccine on religious grounds… He had no luck. But there are more. According to Matt Sullivan of Rolling Stone, between 50 and 60 players have not yet received any doses. The NBA for its part can do nothing beyond recommending, since every decision must be negotiated with the Players Union. From the League they have reported the special requirements for those who do not get vaccinated, as well as that they must adhere to local regulations. None of this has so far convinced those who are clear that they should not be inoculated.
Faced with such a situation, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar believes that the competition should be more blunt and demand vaccination of all players and personnel in the League.
“The NBA should insist that players and staff get vaccinated or removed from teams. There is no place for those players who are willing to risk the health and life of their teammates, staff and fans, simply because they cannot understand the seriousness of the situation or investigate properly ”, he commented to Rolling Stone.
Kareem goes further. Entering to assess the motivation of the deniers, it is difficult for him to understand that they are contrary to those same medical experts who, in other circumstances, would be a reference for them when making decisions.
“What I find especially insincere about the vaccine deniers is their arrogance in not believing in immunology and medical experts. However, if their child was sick or they needed emergency medical treatment themselves, how quickly would they do exactly what those same experts told them? ”He says.
Finally, he is concerned about the image that NBA athletes are giving, which in turn causes other people to follow that same path with an ending that can be fatal. “By not encouraging their people to get the vaccine, they are contributing to those deaths. I am also concerned about how this perpetuates the stereotype of dumb athletes who cannot look at verified scientific evidence and come to a rational conclusion. “
(Fotografía de Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner Sports)
