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Olympic athletes won't be forced to get COVID-19 vaccinations, says Bach

20 Comments
By Jack Tarrant

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© Thomson Reuters 2020.

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20 Comments
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Nobody should be "forced" to use any health measure, but it is rational to make it a requisite to undergo something that can prove immunity, at this time there is no option, but depending on the results of phase III trials a vaccine would be an easy way to do it; hopefully other methods will also be developed. There is nothing wrong or even new in asking for immunizations, people have to do it all the time when traveling to several countries.

Unfortunately it has become clear that the health of the athletes, spectators or the public in general is not the first priority for any of the organizers. The whole thing is based on screening that has been proved to be useless to prevent the appearance of clusters and asking people to "be solidary" instead of putting strict rules that would at least guarantee some safety.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Somebody please tell me what products Moderna has successfully introduced and also what proof of safety have mRNA vaccines been shown to have?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

the very fact that a chump like bach is president of the ioc tells you just how useless and ridiculous the olympics are

11 ( +11 / -0 )

What a contradiction! He says they vulnerable groups should get precedence for the vaccin but knows very well not any vaccins can be available before the Olympics in order for those groups to all get vaccinated. If he means what he says and is consistent that means there can be no Olympics.

Also only vaccinating the athletes and not all supporting staff and other visitors is useless more so because their interactions with others in Japan will be much greater than the athletes.

I am surprised how Bach is misreading this situation and by the futility of his arguments. He has not done the LOC 2020 a favour with this visit

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The arrogance of the IOC is something else.

in a normal world, Japan would tell the IOC that only athletes who get vaccinated will be allowed in.

the IOC likes to play god but they don’t realize their power is waning. Maybe the athletes will just say they aren’t coming like they did last year.

it’s time for these arrogant old corrupt troglodytes to go away

12 ( +13 / -1 )

This Olympics looks like a fait accompli which will steamroller over all of the legitimate concerns people have. I think the only thing that could stop it is other countries refusing to turn up.

I just hope that here in Japan, everyone's memories are not short and we do not go through this very expensive charade again very soon for a Winter Olympics in Sapporo. The plans are still there for a bid for 2030, and with limited takers, it is likely to "win".

5 ( +6 / -1 )

vaccines won't be available for a year anyway. Certainly not to rich atheletes

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The athletes initially cancelled immediately following a tone deaf speech by Bach, so there's no way they're coming

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Part of me wants to see an olympics with no audience and no participants. That would be the most "I told you so" moment for the new decade.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Somebody please tell me what products Moderna has successfully introduced and also what proof of safety have mRNA vaccines been shown to have?

None & none (except for some press releases).

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Nice one...so they can force the Olympic s in the middle of the pandemic

Why does everybody forget about the totally uncontrollable nuclear disaster 120km away or the yearly heat attacks that fill all available hospital beds at that time?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The day before Tokyo's highest ever daily increase. There are no words to describe Bach's irresponsibility.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Are the Olympics REALLY that important? Surely there are other things in life which should get priority.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Kurisupisu - what proof of safety have mRNA vaccines been shown to have?

There are no RNA vaccines in use at the moment but they show great promise in infectious disease and cancer control. Plus they are cheaper and easier to produce than standard vaccines. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be the first such vaccines to pass public safety testing...if they do. But it is looking promising.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No vaccination, no entry to Japan, athlete or not - go clog up your own healthcare system.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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