Name: How should the NBA handle vaccinations for players? | The Jump
Uploaded: 2020-12-15T19:55:13.000Z
Duration: 6 min 58 s
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the MBA's preseason slate of games tips off tonight.

Adverbs of degree

But with only 11 days left till opening night, still, so many questions and concerns heading into the most unconventional season in the 75 year history of the association.

S set a record for Cove in 19 related fatalities for the second day in a row, surpassing 3300 deaths.

There are also around 220,000 new cases reported yesterday in this country.

There's some light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to vaccines that are being developed an already administered in other countries.

Yesterday, an FDA panel granted emergency use authorization for a covert 19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and a German partner company.

We could see the first covert vaccinations in America by early next week.

Now, Brian, you wrote about how the MBA is crafting policy to manage widespread use of covert vaccines.

What are some of the biggest question marks at this point?

Yeah, this is another unprecedented challenge for the MBA to deal with, just based on the timing of everything.

The MBA has got a good chance to be the first Pro league to try to have to deal with, ah, policy across it.

We don't know when that that might be available.

The MBA was very clear and me talking to them.

They realize that they've gotta wait and make sure that everybody is taking care of in front of them.

That said, there are health professionals out there who are saying that giving it to professional athletes earlier in this timetable might make some sense because it can show people in the public who are worried about this, that it's safe and effective.

The problem is they've got to show the players that it's safe and effective, and you've also got Oh, consider, do you mandate this?

Do you say players have to get this vaccine?

There's other health protocols that the league does, whether it's having drug testing, whether it's getting an E k G, that they mandate that you have.

This is gonna be very delicate and obviously could have a big impact on this season.

Paul, If it were you, would you want to take this vaccine.

First, I need to get more information on this.

You know, like, you know, we're who were tested first.

There's so many questions that have to be asked.

I believe before you could just go on and say, Hey, we have a vaccine for a virus.

You know, uh, you know who were who were the test?

I'm sure there were, or it wouldn't be passed at this point.

And then think about the players who whose family who have had covert and recover from it, you know, do they feel like a vaccine is even necessary?

Some people don't, so I'm really split on it right now.

Because people who have already had co vid they have antibodies we contest for that.

So we know that that's true, what we don't know because it's such a new virus.

We don't know how long those antibodies protect you.

There are some cases they've been some in this country and around the world where people have reinfection, where they thought that they were protected because of their antibodies.

They've actually genome tested, and there's a different strain of the virus that is affecting them.

Earlier this week, Brian, we discussed the protocols the MBA is implementing to minimize the rise of infection for players.

Coaches, staff refrain from going to restaurants, bars, large family gatherings.

This really is impacting players day to day lives.

But you do have more than 100 players who tested positive for Covitz since the lead up to the Orlando Bubble League only has around 500 players to begin with.

How do you think players who have already tested positive Brian and who have these antibodies are going to react to being so limited in their daily lives?

This is exactly it, Rachel, and you know it z probably way more than 100 because Thea NBA has announced 100 positive tests between the restart back in the summer and the beginning of training camp.

Now that doesn't include the players who contracted the virus during the shutdown and also in the off season.

And you talk to trainers and other people who work with players agents.

They think that number is at least double, maybe more.

They think that, well, upwards of 40% of the league has maybe dealt with it.

And so you're telling people who probably have been going to nightclubs and restaurants because they feel safe, that they can't do that.

Then there's this Rachel in the initial trials of this vaccine, and this is I'm getting this from talking to doctors, team doctors.

Some people get sick, especially with the second shot for a day or two.

And if a player already has antibodies, it doesn't feel it needs to take it.

He may not want to get a shot that's gonna get a good get him sick for even a day or two.

And then there's the issue that you could still possibly carry the virus even if you had the vaccine, so they may ask players to continue wearing masks and socially distance even after having the vaccine.

That's what I'm hearing from agents and and teams that they were gonna really have to educate their players to convince them to partake in this wholesale.

I was just gonna say, What do you think the dynamic is going to be in the locker room?

Because we've seen in other sports in baseball and football, there is a sense of responsibility to each other, right?

No one wants to bring this into the locker room effect, infect other people, affect other people's lives and families, but also guys air usedto having personal freedom.

So how much responsibility do you think players will feel to each other or hold each other accountable?

Well, you gotta understand right now in the current situation where we're in Ah, lot of bars and restaurants are open Anyway, right now put to the public, you know, I live here.

I think the biggest adjustment may be like, okay, the grocery store or just being around family and friends and And the players, you know, they're gonna be around each other every day, and they and they're gonna abide by the same rules anyway, you know, I know the legal saying, No, you can't go here.

But you gotta understand You can't do those things already.

I'm here in California, Los Angeles, New York.

Places like New York I can understand is different in Florida, Atlanta and maybe Texas.

You know, they have to make an adjustment in those states.

But for the most part, a lot of these states are closed.

So the biggest adjustment, it's just just, you know, finding entertainment within your home, which which we've already been doing.

We've already made the adjustment for the most part, and so you know, that part will be easy.

It's just, you know, getting food, grocery store running.

I'll do a lot of grocery store running myself.

So if you're telling me I can't go to grocery store, we have APS out here.