NO JAB BUT CAN PLAY
CARTWRIGHT WINS EXEMPTION FROM FLU SHOT
GOLD Coast Titans forward Bryce Cartwright has been cleared to play in the NRL after receiving an exemption from the Queensland Government to dodge a flu vaccination.
Cartwright will front for training this morning, bringing an end to the controversial vaccination saga which has overshadowed the leadup to the NRL’s season resumption on May 28.
Cartwright had one last roll of the dice in his bid to avoid a flu jab by applying for a medical exemption to dodge the needle.
He obtained a letter from a doctor outlining medical reasons why he should not receive the vaccination.
And Cartwright was successful, with government officials last night allowing him to return to training and playing, despite being the only Queensland-based NRL player to not receive the vaccination.
Cartwright, who has not vaccinated his two children, has never publicly declared his antivaccination views stemmed from a personal medical experience.
In a long social media post last week, he claimed NRL players had “vaccine injured children” and he would not be bullied into receiving a flu-jab.
Cartwright was the last man standing of three Titans players to originally reject the vaccination.
Hooker Nathan Peats received the injection last week after being informed he would be stood down and centre Brian Kelly returned to training yesterday.
Kelly eventually agreed to receive the vaccination after the Gold Coast club slapped a 48-hour deadline on him and Cartwright which expired yesterday. But Cartwright held strong in his resistance and eventually won after the Government granted him a waiver.
“Bryce Cartwright provided the club with medical documentation seeking an exemption from the influenza vaccine protocol,” the Titans said.
“This was subsequently passed on to Queensland’s chief medical officer Jeannette Young for review. Dr Young has granted Cartwright an exemption based on medical grounds.
“Cartwright is now eligible to return to training with the playing squad in preparation for the season restart.”
The NRL still has players at other clubs who have yet to receive the vaccination and face being barred from playing in Queensland unless they can obtain exemptions.