2021 Tokyo Olympics: Will COVID-19 Vaccine Be a Mandatory Requirement?

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced Tuesday that getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot will not be mandated for the athletes who will compete in the Tokyo Olympics.

Pfizer's and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine might be available early next year. Companies are just waiting for data showing that the vaccine is safe, effective, and will give immunity against the virus. Once it happens, the vaccine will be available and different countries will likely purchase millions of doses.

Read also: 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics Will Proceed As Planned Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

It is also expected that some sports leagues will require their players, coaching staff, and other essential persons to be vaccinated. However, the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for July next year, will not require players and coaches to get a vaccine.

Bach confirmed this on Tuesday, saying that getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not be required for those competing for the Tokyo Olympics. He noted that athletes and coaches could choose whether to get a vaccine or not before the event, according to a published report in MSN.

The IOC President said during his tour in the Olympic Village that "there are too many issues to consider" and "this is a question of private health."

Though the leading vaccine companies have shown promising results, many are still quite skeptical about how safe they are.

Bach added that it is not just about getting the vaccine, but it is about individual health status and a question of availability.

It can be remembered that the two companies did not give many details about the demographics of those who received their respective vaccine. It means that the side effects of those who get the vaccines but have pre-existing conditions are unknown.

These are just some of the questions that remain unanswered until today. This is also why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve any vaccine despite their promising results.

Meanwhile, the IOC President said he would appeal to the athletes and coaches to get a vaccine as a sign of respect for the competitors and the host country, Japan. This is also to make sure that there will be no virus contagion during the event in Tokyo.

It can be remembered that the Tokyo Olympics was postponed this year due to the pandemic. It is the first Olympics that was rescheduled, making the event more historical.

The IOC decided to temporarily halt the event to prioritize the health of players, coaches, and other essential persons.

The IOC President and the Japanese organizers are confident that the Tokyo Olympics will push through in July next year. They vowed that "all the necessary precautionary measures" will be implemented "so that athletes can relax and feel safe."

On Tuesday, Australian Minister for Health Greg Hunt said: "They have moved to secure vaccines for all athletes and officials who would be attending from around the world."

"So our expectation is that there will be vaccines for all athletes from all nations and all officials from all nations, and they'll be well and truly ready long in advance of the Olympic Games," Hunt added.