AFL and players in battle over vaccination call
Indigenous players within the AFL have questioned why the Queensland government has made receiving a pneumococcal vaccination a condition of entry for them despite AFL players falling outside the age categories where such immunisation is mandatory.
The AFL Players' Association has been in urgent talks with the AFL over the conditions since becoming aware in the past 48 hours that Indigenous players at clubs have been required to have the injection in order to enter the Queensland hubs.
All AFL players agreed to have a flu vaccine as a condition of entry but the Queensland government also stipulated to the AFL that Indigenous players needed the pneumococcal vaccination.
Under the national immunisation program it is clear that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who are children or over 50 are required to have a pneumococcal immunisation but the requirement for people falling between 18 and 37 as the AFL's Indigenous players do is less clear.
It is recommended that Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15-49 who were not immunised against pneumococcal as children are vaccinated.
Several players with Indigenous heritage were understood to be shocked when approached to have the immunisation as part of their preparation for staying in Queensland and questioned why it was a requirement for them.
The Players' Association were also annoyed they were not made aware of the condition before the AFL agreed to it and that it was not stipulated in the protocols they signed off on.
Collingwood, Geelong, Melbourne and Hawthorn are yet to enter Queensland this season however it's understood Indigenous players at the other 14 clubs have already had the immunisation.
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