Getting the shot: Possible vaccine fast-track for Tokyo athletes raises questions of ethics
Neeraj Chopra in action.
Last week the union ministry for youth affairs and sports formally requested the health ministry to add India s Tokyo-bound Olympic athletes, coaches and support staff to the priority category of those being administered the COVID-19 vaccines. It followed a similar request by the Indian Olympic Association. The sports ministry says it has already chalked out a blueprint for the two-phase vaccination drive for athletes, which will tentatively begin in March if cleared. So far, 77 Indian athletes (including two teams) have qualified/won quota places for the July Games and the final number is likely to cross 100. While the news in itself - getting Olympics-bound athletes vaccinated - sounds like a good move, it does raise a few questions.