According to a memo obtained by ESPN, on Thursday, the NBA delivered a warning to teams that the franchises are forbidden from pursuing and administering coronavirus vaccines that are newly released on a team-wide basis ahead of public health guidelines for prioritization.
In informing teams that medical experts advising the league has been in agreement with the FDA that the new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic are safe and effective, the league told teams that they will work to vaccinate their players and staffs consistent with the timing and prioritization that are set by applicable public health guidelines, according to the memo.
The NBA memo added that there are exceptions allowed by the NBA, including team physicians, older staff members, health-related personnel, or those who suffer conditions that may cause a higher risk for complications upon contracting the disease.
The memo comes in the wake of NBA commissioner Adam Silver having recently told reporters on a conference call that the league would not jump the line in terms of the vaccine.
Silver said on a conference call with reporters on Monday that it went without saying that in no form or way would they jump the line. They would wait their turn to get the vaccine. Thinking about the logistical feat that now the state and federal governments are undertaking, where if each citizen requires two doses ultimately and with a population of more than 300 million, it is beyond comprehension when it is necessary to start to think about the logistical challenges of transporting and distributing this vaccine.
The memo added that the NBA has been in plans to work with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) in the coming weeks and months on campaigns in order to educate the whole public on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.