The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Olympic athletes torn over receiving vaccine priority
May 24 marked exactly two months until the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. As uneasiness over the adequacy of measures against the coronavirus is leading to growing skepticism about holding the Games, athletes overseas press ahead with preparations amid their own battle with the pandemic.
At a Brazilian military facility overlooking the venue used for the sailing events during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, five athletes scheduled to compete in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics assembled on May 14.
Marcus D’Almeida, a 23-year-old archer, rolled up his left sleeve and received a shot of the coronavirus vaccine developed and provided for free by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. With a look of relief on his face, D’Almeida said, “I have been refused entry by a number of countries, but now I can prepare well for Tokyo.”
Brazil plans to finish vaccinating about 1,800 athletes, coaches and officials by June 21. In addition to using six military facilities in Brazil as vaccination sites, military doctors are traveling to athlete training camps and other sites to give the shots.
At the May 14 vaccination, Brazilian
Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga, who is a licensed physician, administered the shots to athletes. “The vaccine is a way to ensure their safety,” Queiroga said.
This proceeds while the coronavirus situation in Brazil remains dire; the nation has recorded the world’s third-highest number of COVID-19 cases, and the second-highest death toll.
Some Brazilian athletes have told local media that they felt torn over getting priority access to vaccines, when they are so urgently needed by so many.
“I’ll compete at the Olympics, but my life is worth exactly the same as a person who rides the bus to work every day,” one athlete said. Another said, “I had no intention of getting the vaccine if it had been supplied by the government, rather than being donated.”
According to figures compiled by The Yomiuri Shimbun, about 20 nations and territories had started vaccinating athletes or had finalized plans to do so as of mid-May. Such arrangements also are being made for Japan’s athletes.
But this “athletes first” system during a pandemic is leading to growing criticism and consternation, particularly in parts of Europe where the vaccine rollout has been lagging.
From late April, the French government started giving priority to athletes who wished to receive the vaccine. However, the system was not publicly announced, until AFP reported on priority vaccinations being conducted behind a veil of secrecy. The government did so to avoid stoking the ire of the French public.
Before priority vaccinations for athletes started in Italy, some had already finished their shots because they belong to the military, police or other occupational sector that already has priority. Italian Swimming Federation President Paolo Barelli, 66, pointed out that a sense of unfairness has emerged among athletes. “Vaccinated
athletes clearly have an advantage, as they can travel to overseas events necessary for Olympic qualifying,” Barelli said.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any banned substances, and said they are “highly recommended.” Even so, many athletes have expressed concern about the safety of the vaccines and possible side effects.
Starting in early April, about 450 Iranian athletes have been receiving priority shots of the vaccine produced by China’s state-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm. A local newspaper reported that some athletes had a strong aversion to taking this vaccine, with one saying, “I cannot trust the safety of the China-made vaccine.”
As the July 23 opening of the Tokyo Olympics draws near, advance coronavirus testing and vaccinations will be the main pillars of infection prevention measures at Japan’s border. Nations that will send athlete delegations to Japan are scrambling to get ready. (Published in print on May 26)