A few weeks ago, the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (Copur) announced that it had received approval from the Department of Health to vaccinate the 23 athletes qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
Some of those classified, such as sailor Enrique “Quique” Figueroa, have already been inoculated, while others are waiting for personal information to be compiled to begin the vaccination process.
But in the meantime and with a return of cases on the island, there are several athletes who have shown some resistance to vaccination, according to the director of the Center for Sports Health and Exercise Sciences (Sadce) of the Olympic Hostel, Dr. Enrique Amy.
“There are some athletes who do not want to be vaccinated and the explanation I give is that (once) they were vaccinated and gave a reaction and others who have this theory that it is not necessary (to be vaccinated). There is a certain ignorance. And I suggested to Sara (Rosario, president of Copur) to do an educational activity through Zoom or through a digital platform to explain the importance of vaccination and that they are informed, “said Amy Spokesman.
The doctor specified that vaccination will not be mandatory to go to the Olympics. However, he argued that the trip to Japan “without being vaccinated – no matter how many controls there are – is a terrible risk.”
“It’s a personal decision. We try to provide all the information to the athletes and recommend their vaccination. From a health point of view, we are worried because these strains, which are mutations of the virus, can be contagious and problematic “, explained Amy.
“We have two activities pending: one is to certify the date for group vaccination of athletes, and the other is educational, because I see resistance from some good athletes and athletes who do not want to be vaccinated for one reason or another,” he added.
On Tuesday, Salud reported the existence of a new variant on the island.
It is a California-type mutation, the variant of which, despite its similarity, is classified individually. The fourth variant of California responds to the identification: B.1.427.
Amy was also worried about athletes who are not yet vaccinated and who want to qualify for the Olympics.
“I had an athlete therapist who accompanied the swimming delegation to Argentina. Nothing happened to anyone but him. He has been pious and has been in Argentina for a month. He is more emotionally traumatized than physically. Fortunately, he received a ticket today (Tuesday) to return, “he said. “We try to avoid these things.”
“If a young athlete becomes COVID, he can no longer be the athlete he is. And what will you do? I put it that way. I would prefer them to be vaccinated quickly and if they go looking for classification they should be vaccinated because we know that if they get COVID, the symptoms and permanent damage are minimal, “said Amy, who hopes the rest of the athletes will be vaccinated this month.
“There are some who vaccinate themselves and the number can reach ten and maybe more,” he said.