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he Australian Federal Government have confirmed Australia’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes and officials will receive a COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games in July.
With Tokyo currently in its third state of emergency due to the virus, the announcement was welcomed by Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) CEO, Matt Carroll.
“There will be hundreds of very grateful athletes, coaches and their families relieved to know that their hard work over five years has been worth it,” Carroll said.
“This added layer of assurance is what they were seeking,” he said.
Now a part of category 1B of the vaccine role out, 2,050 competitors and support staff that make up Team Australia will receive either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine.
Given the two AstraZeneca vaccines are to be given 12 weeks apart, the announcement comes just in time with only 86 days until the Olympic Games begin.
Prior to the agreement, the majority of athletes would have been a part of category 2B and would not receive their first dose of the vaccine until the second half of 2021.
Speaking with the ABC, Sports Minister, Richard Colbeck, acknowledged the pressure Australia’s Olympians and Paralympians are under as the Games quickly approach.
“This will be a very different Olympics and Paralympics, but our athletes deserve the opportunity to compete,” Colbeck said.
“While vulnerable Australians remain an absolute priority as the vaccine rollout continues, National Cabinet understands the pressure our high-performance athletes have been facing as the Tokyo Games draw closer,” he said.
Carroll said the AOC will work with partners Aspen Medical to ensure the athletes “don’t place any additional load on the public system.”
“The AOC will continue our own exhaustive efforts to keep the team safe before, during and after the Games so our athletes can experience their Olympic moment and represent their country with pride,” Carroll said.
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