The NBA issued a warning to teams on Thursday that franchises are prohibited from pursuing and administering newly released coronavirus vaccines on a team-wide basis, ahead of public health prioritization guidelines, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
By informing teams that medical experts advising the NBA agree with the FDA that the new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the coronavirus are “ safe and effective, ” the NBA told teams that the league will work to support its players and Vaccinate personnel “in accordance with the timing and prioritization determined by applicable public health guidelines,” the memo said.
The NBA allows exemptions for team physicians and health-related staff and older staff or those with conditions that pose a higher risk of complications from contracting the coronavirus, the memo said.
The memo comes in the wake of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who recently told reporters during a conference call that the NBA would not “jump the line” when it came to the vaccine.
“It goes without saying that we will not cross the line in any way,” Silver said on Monday during a conference call with reporters. “We are waiting our turn to get the vaccine. When you think about the logistical feat that the federal and state governments are now undertaking, where if every citizen ultimately needs two doses and with a population of over 300 million, it is incomprehensible if you start to think about the logistical challenges of transporting and distributing this vaccine. “
The NBA plans to partner with the National Basketball Players Association in the coming weeks and months on campaigns to educate the public about vaccine safety, the memo said.