Australian government urge tennis players to get COVID 19 vaccine before Australian open.
Government official have urge player to be vaccinated ahead of the Australian open grand slam in Melbourne.
A vaccine mandate has been introduced for all professional athletes but authorities are yet to clarify whether athletes from overseas or other Australian states must also vaccinate.
Victoria sports minister Martin Pakula advised players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to give themselves the best chance of playing in the Grand Slam.
“If I was an ATP or WTA player, I’d be getting vaccinated,” Pakula told local radio station SEN.
“That will give them the best opportunity to play in the Australian Open with the more minimal restrictions that might be in place for those people.”
Australia’s borders remain effectively shut to non-residents, and Pakula said he did not know whether unvaccinated people would be allowed to enter the country by the time of the Australian Open, which starts January 17.
“That’s going to be the subject, I suspect, of discussion at national cabinet and amongst the federal cabinet,” he said.
“As for the rules that might apply around the Australian Open, specifically, we’re in discussions with Tennis Australia and the department of health about that.”
