'Vaccination battle on two fronts': NRL gets women's vax reprieve

By Scott Bailey / Wire

The NRL is unlikely to be fighting a vaccination battle on two fronts with the number of women’s players receiving the jab rapidly increasing in recent weeks.

There had been some concerns over the relatively low rate of vaccinated NRLW players, with their competition to start before their male counterparts.

That would have threatened to overshadow a landmark early-season women’s competition, which AAP can reveal will include its first standalone grand final.

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However, the looming introduction of restrictions in Queensland – where two of the six teams are based – has resulted in the percentage of players across the league either booked in to receive their jab or at least partially vaccinated at 93 per cent.

That number is then expected to rise further in the next week.

Only those who are vaccinated will be able to train in Queensland stadiums when pre-season begins in January.

Matches in the final two rounds will also be played in Queensland, where only those who are vaccinated will be able to run out.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Rugby League Players Association chief Clint Newton was confident players would be largely vaccinated before the start of the season.

“It’s at a decent number, but it’s not where the NRL are at but that’s mainly to do with timing,” Newton told AAP this week.

“It’s important not to compare because the men are returning to training as early as last week while the NRLW pre-season starts in January.

“It has been a strong take-up rate to date and we’ll continue to work through that.”

It comes as the number of fully unvaccinated men’s players dropped below 20, with almost half of those believed to have had their first jab.

The NRL has not made vaccination mandatory, but clubs and the players’ union are working through stand-down and termination policies for players who cannot train or play.

“Given the fact the women are NRL-contracted players for a period of time we need to make sure that while they train and play they do so in a safe workplace and we are strongly recommending vaccination,” Newton said.

“At the same time it’s about working with players on a case-by-case basis and understanding the rationale and reasoning behind why someone is vaccine-hesitant or unwilling.”

Meanwhile, it’s understood the NRLW final will be played as its own event on April 10, with a stadium of NRL standing to host the match.

The NRL has not released times or venues for semi-finals and finals weekends, but a number of venues could be held in reserve to give a chance of a home-city decider.

The league’s decision to start with two Sunday afternoon triple-headers also means the majority of matches will be shown on Nine Network’s main channel.

The Crowd Says:

2021-11-13T04:59:43+00:00

Bluddy L Arry

Guest


When the criteria for a covid death is that the person doesn't necessarily even have to have the virus , any person with a level of intelligence above dunce should be questioning the agenda .

2021-11-13T04:53:16+00:00

Dandragon

Roar Rookie


How do you & your source define an adverse reaction? Does a sore arm count? You have every right to be cautious of contracting C-19 too. I presume you’ve opted for the latter.

2021-11-13T04:49:25+00:00

Bluddy L Arry

Guest


Over 70,000 adverse reactions have been reported to the TGA , people have every right to be cautious of these rushed concoctions.

2021-11-13T04:29:49+00:00

Dandragon

Roar Rookie


“…for a virus that has had a number of different strains already and with a new strain being manufactured in a laboratory every other month.” Where’s your reference for this little alarmist ‘fact’? You pride yourself on your references and, yet, today you’ve circulated some really inflammatory stuff that is not at all agreed fact…conveniently with no references at all. References matter when you choose to circulate paranoidal nonsense. Coz you said so doesn’t cut it, I’m afraid.

2021-11-13T03:46:59+00:00

Dandragon

Roar Rookie


You can’t help yourself, can you? You readily lie about anything that suits your narrative and then loyally spruik the lies of your utterly irresponsible Murdoch press. If you aren’t an anti-vaxer, why would you want to circulate this? Where’s your reliable reference for this (if it starts with “fox….”, it’s inadmissible): “ reportedly there has been an organised suppression of the truth by the media concerning numerous adverse reactions to vaccines that were rushed when the US indemnified big pharma against legal liability.”

2021-11-13T03:42:50+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


double vaccinated - is that like "double secret probation"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3LzJzQ3wj4

2021-11-13T03:37:50+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


the unvaccinated should spend a week in the ICU ward giving the nursing staff a hand (and a much needed break). If they don't believe in covid then they can help the nurses but without face masks, PPE etc

2021-11-13T03:33:27+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


yes, i think the current “vaccines” were thrown together due to the speed of the pandemic, hopefully over time as scientists have more time, research etc they can create a better vaccine with less potential side effects against multiple strains

2021-11-13T03:17:59+00:00

Dionysus

Guest


That is true. A virus dies out when its R number (the number of people one infected person spreads it too) falls to less than 1. The alpha variant had an unconstrained R number of about 3 whereas delta is about 5. If you can get to a situation in a community where the R number is reduced to less than one then you have herd immunity and the virus will eventually die out. To gain herd immunity you have 3 options. 1) you can employ strategies that prevent the virus spreading such that r<0. This is what we have been doing with lockdowns and masks etc and was successful with Alpha but much much harder with delta) 2) You have a vaccine that is effective enough and you get enough people inoculated. 3) You let the virus run riot until enough people have had it and recovered that they achieve a natural immunity. Our government used the first strategy successfully with the alpha strain and attempted to do the same with delta but with a higher initial r number, this strategy failed. It has also tried strategy 2 and whilst these vaccines are very good, they are neither efficient enough nor do we have sufficient people inoculated to get r1. That is why finding a vaccine for children is so important.

2021-11-13T03:09:00+00:00

Glory Bound

Roar Rookie


My son works with 2 anti-vaxxers (a father and a son) who went to the protest in Sydney and stood among a sea of people all not wearing face masks and then they both turned up to work the nest day. Irresponsible clowns!

2021-11-13T03:05:07+00:00

Duncan Smith

Roar Guru


I've personally chosen to be double vaccinated. For many of those people who object to it, it doesn't seem to be about science or medicine so much as a complete loss of trust in the authority of social institutions. When government and media has clearly lied about so many other important issues, it's little wonder people are wary of their pronouncements on Covid 19, even if this time they may be telling the truth. The level of trust is almost non-existent.

2021-11-13T02:42:58+00:00

Dandragon

Roar Rookie


Thanks, Kent. I’m thinking we should make them surrender their Medicare cards - after all, these gullible doctors can’t be trusted anyway, can they? Medicare Repo - what do you think?

2021-11-13T02:40:41+00:00

Dionysus

Guest


Hi Glory, I think you might have read my post wrong. I very much agree with what you have said. I know some avid footy fans who are double jabbed but are seriously thinking that they won't go to the footy next year because they are afraid of mingling in big crowds. They won't go shopping at weekends and try to get into the shops very early morning and mid week when they are quieter. I know one 20yr old who is paranoid at work with cleaning and wearing a mask because her 28yr old husband has a weak immune system (don't know why). That is why I have little sympathy for those who are fit and able but just refuse the vaccination because of some obscure theory.

2021-11-13T02:01:18+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


How / why did the "Spanish Flu" outbreak in the early 1900's die out" - “The end of the pandemic occurred because the virus circulated around the globe, infecting enough people that the world population no longer had enough susceptible people in order for the strain to become a pandemic once again,” says medical historian J. Alexander Navarro.

2021-11-13T01:59:52+00:00

Glory Bound

Roar Rookie


That's the truth of it Kent. Unvaccinated people put themselves at greater risk. The media hasn't helped though with mixed messages bombarding the news going from pro-vaccination one day to the dangers and reported side effects to scare people into inaction the next. I still don't understand the logic of vaccinating people against a specific strain of the virus for a virus that has had a number of different strains already and with a new strain being manufactured in a laboratory every other month. Perhaps someone in a position of influence has shares in big pharma?

2021-11-13T01:56:41+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


D - that's it mate, if they don't believe in covid, or don't want to be vaccinated - their choice. & for them no health care, ICU / hospital access on the Govt system - they can pay for it themselves. They can lay on the couch at home watching the daytime soaps instead.

2021-11-13T01:53:57+00:00

Glory Bound

Roar Rookie


Duncan is right Dionysus. The unvaccinated are at greater risk. Those who are vaccinated can contract the virus and be asymptomatic or suffering from mild symptoms but the unvaccinated are at risk of getting the virus full strength. At least that is what we have been told by the media after the vaccines have had limited clinical tests, insufficient time to analyse finds and reportedly there has been an organised suppression of the truth by the media concerning numerous adverse reactions to vaccines that were rushed when the US indemnified big pharma against legal liability. Before you rush to label me as an anti-vaxxer I have already received both shots of Pfizer and the second shot knocked me out for about a week. Still, whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger... unless it leaves you with damage to your lungs, heart and brain. Some may say in my case with the latter that would be hard to assess. :silly:

2021-11-13T01:45:18+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


https://www.sorryantivaxxer.com/ In August, the risk of dying from the coronavirus was more than 11 times higher for unvaccinated adults, new CDC data shows.

2021-11-13T01:02:01+00:00

Simply Simon

Guest


I have followed the numbers on this pandemic for a while and have observed the following : 1. At the start of the pandemic with the alpha strain (first 1 million infected globally) the death rate was approximately 2.25% of all those that got infected. 2. At Christmas last year before the vaccine, that death rate had dropped slightly to around 2.15% That was probably due to more sophisticated countries learning how to handle the virus and more infected people seeking help earlier. 3. Today, admittedly with the delta strain, the death rate is around 1.5% (G7 countries only) and still 2% plus in poorer countries. 4. Australia is one of the best countries in the word in terms of keeping the virus out and in terms of keeping the death rate down. The death rate in Australia since the beginning of the pandemic is just 1.00% of all of those infected. Most deaths occurred last year in Victoria and but for that, our result would have been even better. Conclusion: The vaccine is having a positive effect however it is not the complete answer and global vaccination rates are too low. Incidently, last week in the UK, 1 person in every 50 became infected with Coronavirus. This thing is far from over.

2021-11-13T00:54:20+00:00

Dandragon

Roar Rookie


You are presuming that nations actually listen to WHO. If you follow conservative press sources, the WHO has actively misled the entire world. If you seek out other news sources, you’ll find a very different account of its role through the pandemic. Like the UN, the WHO is powerless without voluntary compliance.

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