|
Australia has restricted the roll-out of its
favoured AstraZeneca vaccine to people under 50 over blood
clotting concerns, slowing the national vaccination programme
further after the European Union blocked exports to the country.
The sluggish roll-out has raised concerns Australia's athletes
could miss out on vaccines, even as rival nations race ahead
with inoculations for their Olympians before Tokyo.
"We have to prepare for the worst. We have to prepare that the
athletes won’t be vaccinated," SA CEO Alex Baumann told
reporters at the national championships on the Gold Coast on
Thursday.
"But it really is a choice for the athletes. We’re not going to
make it compulsory. Obviously it would be preferable to have the
athletes vaccinated. We’ll encourage that."
Australia said on Tuesday a second person had been diagnosed
with a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Australian authorities recommend people who receive the first
dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine have a booster after 12 weeks to
maximise immunity.
The opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics will be held on July
23.
Baumann and SA President Kieren Perkins said no swimmers had
approached them with concerns about vaccinations or the narrow
time-frame to have them before Tokyo.
Perkins said he would not want to influence athletes on their
decision to have vaccines if they became available but said he
would gladly take the AstraZeneca shot.
"As an Australian citizen who is under 50, I’ve seen the stats
and I don’t have any problem taking the AstraZeneca vaccine
myself," the 47-year-old former Olympic champion told reporters.
"From the minute that I’m able to, I’ll be lining up at the door
and going in to get it."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
