The NBA has given players freedom to decide on vaccination against the coronavirus. According to data managed by the competition, at this time there would be 90 percent of players vaccinated while the rest, for various reasons, have chosen the opposite path. Well known are the cases of Andrew Wiggins, Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal, but the total number is close to 40 members of the staff. They know that they must submit to local restrictions (tougher in San Francisco and New York), as well as those of the NBA protocol. Well, about the latter is Shams Charania from The Athletic who reveals some really tough measures that are included in the 65 pages of the health and safety protocol of the American competition.
We already had knowledge that those not vaccinated should have tests that give positive results to play games and travel with their teams. We are practically talking about taking daily tests. This is how things were done the previous season and that is how they will continue. The point is that the protocol includes other measures that would affect the day to day.
According to the aforementioned journalist, those not vaccinated will not be able to eat in the same room as another player, they must keep a distance of two meters with the rest of the players in team meetings, they will have their locker separate from that of the rest of the roster members and must remain in the hotel or residence of the team, being prohibited from going to public places.
“I would ask those who are getting vaccinated: why do they keep getting Covid? You can still contract and transmit Covid even when vaccinated. Then…”. This is Beal’s argument for not getting vaccinated, but the NBA isn’t buying it. With the confirmed data on how the vaccine stops the virus, reduces transmission and prevents deaths, the League understands that it is one thing to let each player choose and another to pretend to be vaccinated or not. Wiggins talked about staying true to what you believe. The League accepts it, but does not share it.
(Photograph by Ashley Landis-Pool / Getty Images)
