FKF relax stance on vaccine passport

The decision by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) not to allow any players who miss the ongoing vaccination drive to play is not cast on stone and genuine cases of foregoing the AstraZeneca vaccine will be considered, federation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Barry Otieno has revealed. 

While launching the vaccination drive for FKF Premier League and Women Premier League (WPL) teams, federation boss Nick Mwendwa had said that any player or official who give the jab a wide berth risk being locked out of the stadiums when action resumes. 

The exercise, started last week, compels players, officials and referees to take the jab as a Covid-19 vaccination passport will be required for one to be involved in the game from here on. 

"We are guided by the health department and anyone that the health policies do not allow to undergo this particular vaccination cannot be compelled to. Our priority remains the well being and safety of all our players and the football family. We are trying to make sure that it is safe to resume playing and that involves ensuring that it is safe for our vulnerable members, whether underage or those with conditions excluding them from vaccination," offered Otieno adding that this will become a requirement for participation in continental competitions as well.

Concerns had been raised on the resolve not to allow those not vaccinated to play as some have genuine reasons not to go for the jab. 

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), for example, while pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe Covid-19, very little data is available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy. It also recommends that people with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine should not take it. The vaccine is also not recommended to persons younger than 18 years of age pending the results of further studies. 

"All players who missed the vaccine for the above reasons can rest easy as they will play. This is not a FKF exercise but a ministry of health one. We just facilitated the exercise by requesting for the vaccine for our teams. All other medical expertise was handled by the health officials running the drive. It was not possible to conduct medical tests on all players before the vaccination but there were questions asked before the vaccine on a person's medical background and any allergies so I believe those who got vaccinated were well informed," added Otieno. 

All Premier and division one players and officials in Nairobi have been vaccinated. FKF has written a letter for clubs outside Nairobi to get the vaccine at their respective Counties, an ongoing exercise.