Some NHL players are afraid of the vaccine
Will the National Hockey League players be forced to get the vaccine before the start of the next season (mid-October)? This question is still on everyone's lips as I write this brief post, and there is every indication that the NHL may sanction non-vaccinated players.
According to The Athletic, there is currently a dialogue about the possibility of withholding salary from players who have not received the vaccinations... The NHL could also add sanctions, such as a ban in certain places in Canada and the United States, which are stricter in terms of health.
Regarding the vaccine, a few players have spoken out about it, and let's just say that they are fearful because of the side effects:
"I was worried about getting the vaccine during the year, because I heard stories that the side effects were more severe in those who had already been infected with the virus. After that, we got into the playoffs and I didn't want to risk taking the vaccine, especially since we don't have to be tested for 90 days after contracting the virus," said a player who went through the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
But with this rumor of sanctions or not paying the non-vaccinated players, the discourse is quietly changing for some of them :
"If there's a chance we won't get paid or we'll get suspended by our teams, it definitely makes people think differently. My impression? It's that almost everyone will be inoculated now," said an anonymous player.
"It puts a little bit of pressure on everyone. You don't want to be the reason your team is playing with one man down or having to stay in the hotel like last year," added another anonymous player.
Analyzing all of this, despite the fear of some unvaccinated players going through the NHL's COVID-19 protocol in 2021, I feel like all 700 players will be vaccinated for the upcoming campaign.
