Many athletes see the vaccine as the key to going back to life before the pandemic as we know it, playing sports again, fans in the stadiums and just normality as we knew before. Vanessa Reda, a first-year on the women’s Humber Hawk sees the vaccine in a similar way.
“Personally yes because it makes sure that not only are you keeping yourself safe from covid but you’re keeping others safe as well, especially since there is so much contact in soccer.”
Rodgers was told if he tested positive, he would be quarantined for 10 days and fined $14,650 for violating COVID-19 safety protocols. As a consequence, the topic of mandatory vaccination continued to be discussed.
In contrast to the NFL, which requires its players to be vaccinated before participating, other leagues such as the NBA, MLB and NHL have implemented restrictions instead of mandatory vaccinations. For example, the NBA doesn’t have a vaccination mandate to play but it follows the city’s vaccination rules and guidelines to determine the outcome. A city like New York City has a vaccine mandate in place. This is currently affecting Kyrie Irving, an NBA player playing for the Brooklyn Nets, he is not vaccinated.
These vaccine mandates and health guidelines were implemented by leagues to keep the players’ health and safety in mind. This is so that games can be played and spectators can come and watch. This means that money revenue may still continue to be generated.
Players in the league might decide not to get the vaccine for a number of reasons that they believe. Rather than depriving themselves of the ability to play due to their health and safety, they can use it as a human right not to be forced to do anything they don’t want to do. However, this action puts them in a position where they are unable to play.
These vaccines are here to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and help deter the effects and symptoms which you receive when you catch this bug which is heavily spreadable through large crowds and coming in contact with people who have it.
This affects the way Julian Buttice a hockey player that plays in many different leagues, sees and approaches the way he now plays hockey in those leagues.
While many hockey players might play in one seasonal league during the winter, Buttice participates in several separate leagues during the season. He comes across many different people who live their lives in various different ways.
The leagues that Buttice participates in require him to show proof of vaccination. This helps Julian know he can still do what he loves to do, play hockey and keep safe for himself and his family.
“It doesn’t really matter to me whether or not people are vaccinated on my team or other teams because I have gotten the vaccination so I have protected myself which is all that really matters.”
Athletes want the utmost success for themselves and others in the league. They want the owners and general managers of the teams and leagues to do what it takes so they can get back to doing what they love. This includes the owners and general managers of the teams and leagues.
These are leagues that are constantly pumping money into players, team officials, and merchandise. Whenever obstacles arise they are sure to jump at them to keep the path clear, that motion was vaccines.
An argument for requiring athletes to show proof of vaccination before playing on a team is that as humans, they shouldn’t be forced to do anything they shouldn’t.
Many players like Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal and Jonathan Issac are all unvaccinated and are unable to play due to vaccine mandates in their states. The rules are not being allowed to play while not being vaccinated
As far as getting vaccinated to play sports, Buttice reiterates his stance on the vaccine and the methods the government has put in place for society. “Well rules are rules and if the government is saying protect yourself and others it’s probably best that you do get it because they obviously know more.”
At the end of the argument, it’s the simple matter of should athletes be forced to take the vaccine. It’s also the simple matter of how the government and leagues manage these options to make it as safe as possible for others.
The vaccine already has been the subject of many arguments – is it safe, what is in it, should we even take it. At the end of the day, athletes who love the sport they play, want to get back to doing what they love especially in a safe way for themselves and others.