PROCURING COVID-19 vaccines should not pose a problem for the NCAA.
Getting the approval from the parents and the athletes themselves to be inoculated is another story, according to a highly-reliable Malaya-Business Insight source.
“Mayroon na kaming pakikipag-usap pero siyempre iyong vaccination, that’s another matter. Makakakuha kami, ang problem is papayag ba iyong bata? Papayag ba iyong magulang?” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“Nagsabi na sila (GMA 7, the league’s new broadcast partner) that they can get vaccines for us, kaya lang, unahin munang tanungin iyong mga bata and mga magulang nila kung papayag ba sila.”
Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have received the green light for emergency use from the World Health Organization, while some 50 other vaccines are also waiting to get WHO approval.
The Philippines is currently among the developing countries waiting to procure vaccines for the deadly pandemic, with the first batch of doses expected to arrive in the coming months.
The source said the Management Committee chaired by Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, of 96th season host Letran is set to tackle the league’s vaccination plan.
“Iyon ang next sa table namin. First, we have to get the approval of the Policy Board, of course, and the parents and iyong atleta,” the source said.
“Pagmi-meetingan namin iyan. Vaccine and back to the drawing board kasi naghigpit nga ang gobyerno. Sa vaccine, it’s a question of morality and kung okay ba sa ang magulang.”
The risks of having vaccinated should also be discussed.
“Ang isa pang dapat pag-usapan ay iyong shared responsibility, ano mangyayari kapag may na-infect. Maraming factors ang iispin about sa vaccine. Sa amin, madali ng kumuha kasi dalawa na iyong source namin, isa sa GMA, and may isa pa. Hindi mo naman puwedeng i-impose iyan sa bata na magpa-injection ka na, it will be voluntarily,” the source said.
“Kahit hindi minor, kailangan payagan rin ng magulang kasi nga it’s a responsibility.”
The NCAA intends to launch its new season with only the four mandatory sports —basketball, volleyball, swimming, and track and field — under a school-based bubble concept in the second quarter this year.
