Novak Djokovic: “I understand that if I do not get vaccinated, I will not be able to travel”. Tennis player Novak Djokovic said he would rather skip future tennis tournaments than be vaccinated against the coronavirus against his will. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Djokovic emphasized that he is not and does not want to be associated with the anti-vaccine movement, but that he supports the right of individuals to make their own decisions.
Asked if he would sacrifice his participation in tournaments such as Wimbledon or Roland Garros for his vaccination status, Djokovic answered in the affirmative. “Yes, I am willing to pay such a price,” he said.
In January, the Australian government revoked the visa of a twenty-time Grand Slam tournament winner after it was revealed he had not been vaccinated. Djokovic claimed that doctors allowed him to enter Australia to play in the Australian Open tournament because he had recently recovered from the coronavirus. However, the conflict ended when Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke personally revoked the 34-year-old tennis player’s visa, saying his presence could lead to “civil unrest” and strengthen anti-vaccination sentiments.
“I have never been against vaccination,” Djokovic said, confirming to the BBC that he was vaccinated as a child. “But I have always been for freedom of choice in what I put into my body.”
Novak Djokovic’s interview with the BBC was his first since being detained in Melbourne. He shared his thoughts on speculation about his COVID-19 infection in December and the vaccine itself.
In January, the Australian Minister for Immigration personally revoked Djokovic’s visa and he was forced to leave the country. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of episodes should remain the same. The end of the story: Podcast Advertising
Djokovic said he hoped for changes in vaccination requirements for athletes that would allow him to “play for many more years.” Still, he is willing to give up the prospect of becoming statistically the greatest tennis player in history because of his stance on vaccinations. Today, Novak Djokovic’s rival Rafael Nadal is one Grand Slam trophy ahead of him. When asked why, he replied: “Because the principle of having control over my own body is more important than titles and everything else. I want to be in harmony with my body as much as possible. Djokovic added that he has “always been very concerned with health issues, proper nutrition and routine,” and his decision was influenced by the fact that changes in his diet and sleep routine have greatly improved his athletic performance. Djokovic made it clear that the question of vaccination will remain open for him in the future, “because together we are looking for the best way to deal with the coronavirus. “I have never been against vaccination. I understand that on a global level everyone is trying very hard to deal with the virus, and I hope it will be successful soon,” the tennis player said.
Djokovic is an amazing person in every respect. He grew up between two wars in Yugoslavia. In order for their son to become a tennis player, his parents sold their family jewelry and took loans from moneylenders. Djokovic speaks six languages and is arguably the best tennis player in the world. He is also a staunch libertarian and advocate of personal autonomy. He has clearly thought a lot about the conflict between personal freedom and the common good. And he believes that his body, the body of a top athlete, is his own business, even in a commercial sense.
Fergus Walsh, Medical Section Editor. To date, more than 10 billion doses of vaccines have been administered worldwide. Six out of ten people on the planet have received at least one shot. More than enough information is available. Like all medicines, coronavirus vaccines have possible side effects, but overall they are very safe. They have saved many lives, prevented severe disease progression and may protect against “long COVID”. These vaccines were developed in record time, but vaccine development typically takes longer, primarily due to funding delays. Scientists involved in the vaccine trials and regulators who approved the vaccines say all safety procedures were followed. Some very rare side effects have only become apparent after millions have been vaccinated, so regulators are constantly monitoring the safety of the drug. It is not quite clear what additional information Novak Djokovic needs. He says that he does not have enough information about “the vaccine”, as if there is only one vaccine. But there are many. He is an elite athlete and his risk of infection is low, but not zero. After all, he has already received COVID-19 twice.
In the interview, Djokovic also addressed the rumors about what happened before the Australian tournament and his deportation from the country. Many said Djokovic was fortunate to recover from the coronavirus in mid-December, just in time for doctors to clear him to travel to Australia. “I understand that there is a lot of criticism around me and I understand that people have different theories about how it was convenient for me and how lucky I was in that sense,” Djokovic admitted. “But in reality, getting infected with the coronavirus is not luck. It is unpleasant. Millions of people around the world have suffered and continue to suffer from coronavirus. That’s why I take this very seriously. I don’t want anyone to think that I have somehow manipulated a certain mechanism, turned something in my favor to get a negative PCR test and eventually go to Australia,” he says. When asked if anyone tried to tamper with Djokovic’s test (the BBC had previously pointed out that the serial number of the test did not match the general pattern), the tennis player simply said “no”.
Djokovic is willing to sacrifice his tennis career for the chance to decide whether or not to be vaccinated. The tennis player also spoke about being held in a detention center for migrants in Melbourne. “What happened to me in Australia was very difficult, it was a big disappointment,” he said. Djokovic’s lawyers have challenged the tennis player’s deportation and filed documents with the court. They claimed Djokovic had been granted a waiver by tournament organizer Tennis Australia, followed by a letter from the Department of Home Affairs saying he could enter the country. However, questions were raised about his visa documents. “Of course, no one intentionally made any mistakes in the declaration,” he says. “It was accepted and approved by the Federal Court of Australia and the Minister for Immigration.” “I was deported because the Minister of Immigration revoked my visa at his own discretion, believing that my presence in the country could strengthen anti-vaccination sentiments. I strongly disagree with this,” the athlete said.
