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The exceptions to the vaccine against covid-19 (and what was Djokovic's)

2022-01-12T21:46:14.440Z


Novak Djokovic's participation in the Australian Open 2022 has opened a debate on the fulfillment of vaccination mandates


The retention of Novak Djokovic shows refugee crisis in Australia 3:51

(CNN Spanish) -

 The participation of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open 2022 has caused controversy in recent days and discontent among Australians after he received an exemption to vaccination.

In addition, the controversy has opened a debate about compliance with vaccination mandates around the world and what exceptions are valid for not getting vaccinated.

The Australian Government Department of Health has a list of reasons for obtaining a coronavirus non-vaccination permit that anyone traveling to the country can adhere to.

The guidelines were developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (Atagi) and each submission is reviewed by a panel of experts who decide whether or not the applicant meets the requirements. 

These are the exceptions to the vaccine, according to Atagi:

  • Another top tennis player held before Australian Open due to visa issues

For a covid-19 mRNA vaccine:

  • Inflammatory heart disease in the past 3 months (myocarditis or pericarditis)

For all other covid-19 vaccines:

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  • Acute serious medical condition (having major surgery or being admitted to hospital for a serious illness).

    These are generally time-limited conditions.

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by PCR, in which vaccination can be deferred until 6 months after infection.

    Vaccination should be postponed for 90 days in people who have received anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma therapy.

  • Any serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with no other identified cause and with no acceptable alternative vaccine available.

  • If the vaccinated poses a risk to themselves or others during the vaccination process, they can guarantee a temporary exemption from the vaccine.

Djokovic's arguments for not getting vaccinated

Djokovic had received a temporary visa on November 18 to participate in the Australian Open.

On the 29th of that month, according to a letter leaked by the Australian media, Health Minister Greg Hunt wrote to Open Director and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley that a covid-19 infection alone In the last six months, without a complete vaccination, he did not meet the requirements to enter the country without quarantining.

Tennis Australia announced in a statement in early January that Djokovic had received a medical exemption from vaccination.

However, when the tennis player arrived in Melbourne on January 5 to contest the Open, the Immigration authorities, which are ultimately the ones who verify the documents that support the visas, reported an irregularity in his medical exemption permit.

During a court hearing, Djokovic's defense said that this exemption had been granted on the grounds that the tennis player had natural immunity after being infected with COVID-19

according to a test that tested positive on December 16.

  • TIMELINE: Novak Djokovic and the Australian Open: Everything We Know So Far

The arguments of both the defense and the government essentially focused on the guidelines issued by the Atagi.

Lawyer Nick Wood, who represents the Serbian tennis player, argued that Atagi's advice states that a past covid infection provides at least six months of natural protection, "and therefore can be considered a temporary exemption from vaccination."

Finally, the judge of the Australian Federal Courts, Anthony Kelly, ordered this Monday the immediate release of Djokovic from the hotel where he had been staying since last Thursday after the government canceled his visa when he tried to enter the country without being vaccinated. The judge's decision was based mainly on the handling of the situation by the Australian Border Force (ABF), which initially gave it a deadline to present the documentation, but later shortened that time without giving it a chance. to Djokovic to defend his case.

However, a source with knowledge of the case told CNN that the ABF opened an investigation into whether the Serbian tennis player lied in the information he provided to Tennis Australia.

Court documents show that the association was responsible for filling out the medical exemption form with the information that Djokovic himself gave it, as determined by an ABF official at Melbourne airport.

Novak Djokovic apologizes and admits mistakes 1:31

The investigation by the Australian authorities comes at the time that the Immigration Ministry considers the possibility of canceling Djokovic's visa again, who, after the verdict, made clear his intention to compete and has returned to the fields to train.

The authorities consider that having suffered a contagion within the six months prior to entering the country does not exempt the requirement to be vaccinated.

 Djokovic's press team has not responded to a CNN request for comment. 

"I want to stay and try to compete at the Australian Open. I flew out here to play one of the biggest events out there in front of some incredible fans," wrote Djokovic, who previously voiced opposition to the vaccine mandates, on his account. Twitter

  • OPINION |

    Novak Djokovic's saga reveals deep divisions in Australian society

Meanwhile, given the news of the investigation opened by the ABF in Australia, Serbian Prime Minister

Ana 

Brnabić

said 

on Tuesday that it would be "a clear violation of the rules" of her country if the tennis star had participated in a public event if he had been infected.

"However, I don't know when he actually got the results ... so there is a gray area, which I think Novak can provide the only answer," Brnabić added in an interview on the BBC.

According to an

affidavit

submitted by Djokovic himself, one test for covid-19 came back positive on December 16, and a second, on December 22, came back negative.

According to images published by his foundation on its official social media accounts, on December 16 Djokovic would have participated in three events, and none of the participants appeared with masks.

On December 30, Djokovic received the medical exception from Tennis Australia, which allowed him to enter the country without being vaccinated against covid-19 or having to quarantine, on the basis that he had just recovered from a contagion.

Medical Exceptions to the Covid-19 Vaccine in the US

If you are not vaccinated against the coronavirus due to a medical contraindication, before boarding a flight to the United States you must show a letter from a licensed doctor documenting this exception to the airline, according to the guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC).

The CDC considers the following as a contraindication for giving vaccines against COVID-19:

  • Severe allergic reaction (for example, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a component of the covid-19 vaccine

  • Known diagnosed allergy to a component of the covid-19 vaccine

  • For the Janssen vaccine, symptoms of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after receiving a vaccine (or other covid-19 vaccines not currently licensed in the United States or by the World Health Organization that are based on adenovirus vectors).

Australian Open 2022Sportscovid-19 vaccine

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2022-01-12

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