As the pandemic still rages, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon as coronavirus vaccines are being distributed at a fast rate.
Top American sports leagues like the NFL and NBA have been vocal about how to approach the vaccine when it comes to fans and their players. Some players have been undecided on whether they want to be vaccinated, specifically black athletes. A nationwide Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that in December of 2020, 35% of Black Americans stated they definitely or probably would not get the vaccine. This was a significantly higher percentage of reluctance compared to all other racial counterparts that were surveyed. Many Black Americans distrust the American medical system.
One of the reasons is the most infamous period in black history with the Tuskegee experiment, in which a massive group of Black participants were recruited with the incentive of free medical care. In truth, they were diagnosed with syphilis without being informed or offered treatment.
Since the pandemic began, Black people have been hospitalized and have died at disproportionate rates from COVID-19 than white people. The top sports leagues have encouraged their black players to endorse the vaccine publicly.
Some prominent Black athletes like LeBron James are hesitant to publicly endorse COVID-19 vaccination, while others have outright refused the vaccine.
“That’s a conversation that my family and I will have. Pretty much keep that to a private thing,” James said when asked about whether he’d get a COVID vaccine before All-Star Weekend in February. “Things like that, when you decide to do something, that’s a conversation between you and your family and not for everybody. I’ll keep it that way.”
Some prominent athletes are known to have their own doctors, dieticians, and trainers. They tell them what to eat and what to put in their bodies. When it comes to taking the vaccine, they have every right to be cautious. But black pro athletes have a reason to be twice as cautious.
Golden State Warriors forward, Kent Bazemore, said “No sir” after being asked by reporters if he’s taking the vaccine.
Bazemore considers his decision “a lifestyle thing”.
“I do everything I can to strengthen my immune system, with hours upon hours of cooking, preparing my meals at home, really being conscious of what I put in my body and taking care of my health,” he said. “My family has a history of heart disease and all these different things, and I’m trying to turn that around for my lineage. So, I’m taking it upon myself to do everything I can to keep my immune system strong and live a healthy and long life.”
In January, NBA commissioner Adam Silver suggested that NBA players could get vaccinated as sort of a public service announcement to encourage those who are hesitant that it is safe to do so, saying “there would be a real public health benefit to getting some very high profile African Americans vaccinated.”
“It’s something we’re particularly focused on,” Silver said in an interview with Sportico. “In the African American community, there’s been an enormously disparate impact from COVID. …But now, somewhat perversely, there’s been enormous resistance [to vaccinations] in the African American community for understandable historical reasons”
“If that resistance continues it would be very much a double whammy to the Black community because the only way out of this pandemic is to get vaccinated,” he said.
In early March, The NBA sent a memo to all 30 franchises asking them to poll players and staffers in hopes of determining interest levels — and possibly hosting and participating in vaccine clinics at arena sites or team facilities.
Several NBA teams already have joined millions of Americans in getting vaccinated. The New Orleans Pelicans were first, with some staffers and players getting vaccinated on March 13 after Louisiana expanded eligibility guidelines. The Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers followed, with the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly lining up players and staff were vaccinated the week after.
