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Los Angeles (AFP)
US Olympic chiefs said Wednesday that they expect athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics to be vaccinated against Covid-19 “long before” the Games as US immunization efforts advance.
In a conference call with reporters, the executive director of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Sarah Hirshland, said that the pace of the vaccine launch in the United States meant that athletes can now be vaccinated even before testing and qualifying for Tokyo
“We are more optimistic than ever in expecting Team USA athletes to be vaccinated easily and quickly long before the Games and hopefully some probably even before their testing,” Hirshland said.
“The vaccine situation looks very positive … the broad base of athletes may have access to the vaccine sooner than we initially thought possible.
“This is great news and we feel very positive about the progress we are seeing here in the United States, both to its advantage for American athletes and for international athletes living and training in our country right now.”
About 62 million people in the United States have received one or more doses of the vaccine, about 19 percent of the adult population, while the White House has focused on inoculating the adult population of 270 million people by May. .
Hirshland said most athletes were likely to be vaccinated as part of immunization programs at the local level, but he did not rule out mass vaccination events in which athletes would gather in a particular location.
“We are exploring a variety of different scenarios,” he said. “Vaccines may be readily and widely available in local communities across the country as early as May, according to what the administration tells us.
“That certainly provides the easiest logistical path for athletes training in communities across the country, but we are also exploring opportunities to help support that distribution.
“Ideally, vaccines are given long before that, but we are exploring all options. We are focused on being as prepared as we can.”
Hirshland said that while the “vast majority” of athletes on Team United States would opt for the vaccine, he hoped some athletes would refuse to do so.
“I am absolutely certain that there will be athletes from Team USA who do not choose to be vaccinated,” Hirshland said. “We will respect that right. There are a variety of factors that can influence those decisions.
“Our medical teams are working with athletes on an individual basis to make sure they have the information they need to make the right decision for themselves.
“With or without the vaccine, we are confident that we can keep everyone healthy and safe regardless.”
When asked if Olympic officials had seen any evidence of reluctance to travel to Tokyo, he added: “I have no reports of hesitation. Our team is eager and ready to go.”
© 2021 AFP
