The Australian Olympic team’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout officially opened on Monday, with female swimming star Cate Campbell among the first to receive the vaccination.
It was announced in late April that Aussie athletes and support staff preparing for the Tokyo Games would be given priority for vaccines, with the Australian government putting Olympic participants under a priority group that includes health-care workers, Indigenous people aged over 55 and people older than 70.
Campbell, a five-time Olympic medalist, will aim to qualify for her fourth Olympic team next month at the Australian Olympic Trials.
The 28-year-old said it was a huge relief for the athletes to get the vaccines done.
“We are going into a pretty unknown situation over in Tokyo so to have this little band-aid is a huge weight off everyone’s shoulders,” Campbell said, according to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
“I’m really glad that we can get it far enough away from the Olympics so that if there are any adverse side effects, we’ll be well and truly over them by the time it comes around to Olympic Trials.”
Campbell is reportedly one of 2,050 athletes and officials, including the Paralympic team, who will be vaccinated in the lead-up to the Olympics. Vaccine hubs have been set up in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll added that the athletes aren’t jumping the queue.
“There’s no-one who is to be vaccinated in the current cohort under the Australian Government’s system who is missing out,” Carroll said, adding that the athlete vaccines are being rolled out separately from the public system.
It remains up to the athletes whether or not they want to receive the vaccination. All those getting the vaccine are expected to have it done by the end of next week, with the second dose administered four weeks later.
Campbell is scheduled to compete in the last real tune-up meet before the Trials, which will run June 12-17, at this weekend’s Sydney Open (May 13-16).
For USA swimmers its a no brainer to just go get the first shot right now and get the second one after trials(if they want it). I think you can go up to 6 weeks before getting the second shot so right now is the window to get it and most have no effect from the 1st shot. I did my masters swim workout six hours after the 2nd shot it was no big deal.
“There’s no-one who is to be vaccinated in the current cohort under the Australian Government’s system who is missing out,” Carroll said“ That isn’t exactly true. There are many Australians under 50 in phases 1a and 1b who, due to safety concerns with AZ, are now waiting for Pfizer – of which none is being available to you unless you spend your days in speedos or are pretty handy with a cricket bat. This isn’t being received well at all, particularly Bronte Campbell comparing herself and her fellow teammates with our frontline workers. The AOC, allegedly, requested that our government re-assess athletes and position them further up the roll out phases in order to be vaccinated in time. Meanwhile, parts… Read more »
I am just wondering why the situation with vaccination is so different in different countries. Many Americans just simply don’t want to be vaccinated or are taking only one shot of two.
I went to the vaccination site at nearby hospital in the early morning. There were 10-12 of us. It took about 20 minutes to register, take a shot and wait a little if it would be any allergic reaction. When I left nobody was coming after us. A technician said that it is most likely that is for the day. They don’t even require to schedule appointment any more. Everybody can get a shot if they wish. The vaccine was pfiser
Sad thing is nobody knows how long the vaccine lasts? 3months 6months? But at least the Australian Team will be vaccinated which is a good thing!
She also bought over 7 grand in Microsoft products right after… i don’t think that’s a coincidence #microchip
Getting the vaccine is already free money for big pharma.
I hope that Cate will prove all of the keyboard warriors wrong this summer.
YEAH! So that she can sit behind her keyboard and pound out another scathing review attacking people and posting it online.
Kind of ironic, iddn’t it?
Are you suffering post lockdown.trauma? You need to learn how to swim for relaxation & release of toxins .
Unless there is a proven conformation that the vaccine boosts the performance I would not recommend to do it so close to Olympic Games. You are putting something in your body that changes it. Something that you don’t really know what. And I’m not talking about big changes like side effects. Even a small deviation from the best form can cost them a podium at Games. All these athletes are healthy young people who can live a little bit more in the sort of bubble. Just two more months of restrictions. And then do whatever you want.. Why to get extra risk. Just be more cautious.
What vaccine will they get? “Novichok”?. Demn it! Why am i keeping confusing… Read more »
I was wondering that too. The linked article names AstraZeneca.
Within a month, I’d think that you could say the training disruption would matter. This far out I think it’s worth it. You could say there’s a performance boost of not having to worry as much about COVID at the global mixing pot/potential superspreader event that is the Olympics
For the overwhelming majority, it will be the Pfizer jab as the current vaccine policy has been amended to Pfizer for people under 50 (due to the blood clotting issues with Astra Zeneca globally in that age bracket). Those over 50 will get the Astra Zeneca jab ……. or they can hold off pending further changes and/or release of other alternatives into the AUS market.
Dude what?
What “what”? What didn’t you get? That vaccine changes your body at cell level? Look, every body has to measure two risks against each other.
If you don’t take a vaccine and are going to be in situation with high risk to get infected and if you expect the illness to be severe in your case then this risk is higher then the risk to develop strong side effects after vaccination.
But if the chances to be infected are low then risk to get sick after vaccination has to be considered.
I didn’t get vaccinated all this time. There was no need for that. But I’m planning for Omaha in a month and therefore I got a… Read more »
So that you understand: you are receiving downvotes because you are overplaying the risks while simultaneously understating the benefits of the vaccine.
Thank you for explanation. Now i know. That simple. How didn’t I realize it myself? That is why I love swimswam. There always be a person who can clarify the most complicated things.
Don’t take this the wrong way but chances of getting your lungs wrecked by covid (even without preexisting conditions, like Milak) is much much higher than having any issue with the vaccines currently available in Australia.
In a way you are 100% right ; risking a little something that could alter your body and destroy years of hard work just to improve tenths of a seconds, is a real hazard so close to the olympics. But it’s on that little something that we disagree, it’s covid not the vaccine.