The NHL announced last week that the league is looking into purchasing COVID-19 vaccines for the entire league. The report didn’t go over well with hockey fans, including this fanbase. However, the NHL stressed they wouldn’t skip the line when vaccines were made available. After all, it was designed to save lives and stop the spread, not to resume hockey.
For clarification…
The NHL is interested in securing vaccine when and if it’s available for private purchase.
Is it at this point? — no.
The league also is adamant they would not jump the line to do so.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) December 11, 2020
The NHL made it known they would not take vaccines away from the public. Unfortunately, the league clarified their statement after the flack they received from fans. Even vaccine providers like Pfizer went out of their way to ensure to concerned citizens that millionaire hockey players won’t jump ahead them.
If private organizations, companies or someone like the NFL or the NHL approached you to buy vaccines, would you sell to them? –Mercedes Stephenson, The West Block
Right now, we are fully committed and built our global supply plan based upon the contracts that we’ve signed with governments, and so we’re really deferring to the governments to figure out what the best way is to allocate their product. We absolutely would love to respond to all the individual inquiries we’ve received, but we really feel that government is in the best position to determine an equitable distribution among its population. -Cole Pinnow, Pfizer Canada CEO
In other words, Pfizer didn’t develop a vaccine so professional athletes can get back to work. They designed it so you can get back to work.
Just yesterday, Nevada reported 2,975 new cases and 15 deaths. These dark numbers continue to create fear and stress in our great state. If vaccines were prioritized for the Golden Knights or Raiders the local fanbase would be furious.
That’s obviously being done at higher levels and given priority to obviously health care workers, first responders and those that are in the riskiest state. We don’t fall into those categories, so we don’t anticipate that and we’re not planning for that. –Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner in Tampa press event
Not only would it be an incredibly bad look for the league and the Golden Knights to skip the queue, but it could also further delay their biggest issue, fans in arenas. The NHL can’t survive much longer without fans, so limiting vaccines for those at risk would only push back the attendance plan. VGK fans inside the T-Mobile Arena is a long shot for this upcoming shortened season but realistic for the start of the 2021-22 season. According to the CDC, 700 million doses will be available to Americans by April 2021, allowing for plenty of time before the start of next season.
Lastly, there’s a wildcard in the mix here. If vaccines become readily available will the NHL mandate players to receive them? I have no evidence but I imagine some players would be hesitant. The NFL and NBA are in play, so NHL’ers could argue vaccines aren’t needed to get the season underway. That’s an issue for the NHLPA, not SinBin.vegas though.
With so many infected and in need of the vaccine it’s important the Golden Knights turn down any preferential treatment over their faithful fans. Until state and local governments find ways to distribute vaccines effectively, it’s best the NHL and the Golden Knights wait their turn. The last thing this franchise wants is to accept special privileges like the Calgary Flames did in 2009 during the H1N1 outbreak.
It is unfortunate to see a situation where hockey players as a member of a team might have been vaccinated before other people who were in a priority group. We’re working to make sure that does not happen again. -Dr. Eilish Cleary, Canadian health minister in 2009
I have faith the Golden Knights and the NHL will stand by their word and stay put in line. If they don’t, I’m sure fans will be screaming a lot more than “no cutsies.”
Mikegron32
I think they should get it ahead of the “regular public” not because they are millionaire sports figures but because of their job description. They are required to fly over the country, sleep in hotel rooms, eat out, compete in close contact with others, etc. They have a much higher risk of exposure to the virus. I feel the same way about anyone in the airline industry or hospitality industry.
Hdbiker7851
Do you think the ones you mentioned are the only ones who have jobs that require travel etc. Come out from under the rock, they are no more deserving than anyone else.
I was for giving it to the politicians first and if they didn’t die the vaccine would be considered save. If they died then the country would be save. That’s the definition of a win in case you had doubts.
Julie
Exactly, right, HD! Merry Christmas!
Daryl
I del with thugs, mutts, trash, homeless, and gang bangers on a daily basis…. Why shouldn’t I get it before these athletes? Now, with that being said I don’t be taking the vaccine when it comes out. It normally takes 3-5 years to develop a vaccine and we have one after 6 months? No thank you
DC
“Pfizer didn’t develop a vaccine so professional athletes can get back to work. They designed it so you can get back to work.” – If fans don’t have jobs to get back to there won’t be an NHL.
Julie
The AMA just rescinded its Hydroxychloriquine prevention order. So now doctors are encouraged to start prescribing the drug which has shown a high efficacy in treating covid-19.
The urgent need for a vaccine will dwindle now. There was too much in terms of side effects presented with Pfizer’s vaccine. Not to mention the politicization of it.