There have been talks of tennis players being hesitant to take the coronavirus vaccine and some of them have been criticised for that stance. We look at this issue in more depth.
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 made the entire world collapse. Signs of the virus first appeared near the end of 2019 but its effects began to affect almost every industry in the early half of 2020. Soon, many industries had to postpone operations, including sports tournaments.
Since lockdown began, medical experts have been rampant in trying to contain the spread of the virus, save the infected, and study its properties to look for a vaccine. Fast forward to March 2021, many medical companies from around the world have presented their version of a vaccine.
Unfortunately, some do not wish to take this defensive measure. A large population of the world have shared their distrust of the vaccine. Those who are looking forward to exciting tennis in-play betting are worried.
That’s because a few of the star athletes have declared that they refuse to take the vaccine, at least for now. Those people are Andrey Rublev, Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina, and Diego Schwartzman among others.
This has a direct effect on the ongoing tournaments all around the world.
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Reasons Why People Fear the Vaccines
The athletes were interviewed for their reasons to fear the vaccines. To them, the creations of the vaccines were too fast. During the early days of the vaccines’ development in 2020, experts did claim that testing for this type of medicine often takes years.
It is no secret that medical professionals were rampant in its development.
The athletes’ concerns are also shared by many people. None of the athletes is against the idea of vaccines. Some say that getting the vaccines early does not offer any privilege. People are still subject to the same quarantine restrictions.
The athletes clarified that they are not against the idea. They are simply not eager to be among the first to get the vaccines. For now, they wish to wait until more tests are made or when they are obligated to take them.
Some of the athletes are tuned in to the news of Japan’s aggressive acquisition of vaccines for their citizens. Those who are set to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in July plan to get the vaccine if the event wouldn’t be postponed.
Why Are the Vaccines Needed?
The vaccines are the only way to return societies to the way things were. Back to the times when people can enter public spaces without needing to wear a mask. It is also the only chance for people to begin enjoying feasts with groups of people.
The vaccines are also vital to sports events. As of today, sports events are organized without spectators. The paper cutouts of people are endearing but they are not encouraging enough. The stadiums feel lonely without the cheers and chants of a supportive crowd.
The absence of spectators also hurt the organizers of major events. There are no ticket sales since people can’t visit the venue. This is one of the problems being faced by the Japanese government.
The country’s leaders are eager to purchase and use vaccines so the Tokyo 2020 Olympics may begin with spectators. The country needs the potential revenue from the ticket sales to cover the event’s expenses.
Players are also being affected by the virus. It’s bad enough that athletes are prone to penalties and injuries. They are also likely to test positive from COVID-19 which could put them out of the series. An absent player could affect the odds of tennis in-play betting or betting outrights.
While vaccines are important for saving lives and bringing societies back to normal, the reasons of the athletes are worth considering. As of April 2021, experts and leaders are still unsure of the state of society in a few months. For now, tennis players can only wait for more information and take extra precaution when they play matches.