WPL player laments on lack of sensitization before Covid-19 vaccination

In an ongoing vaccination drive, all Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) and Women Premier League (WPL) teams and technical benches are getting the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca.

The exercise, started last week compels all 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 when action resumes.

Federation boss, Nick Mwendwa, while launching the exercise warned players and officials who will give the Covid-19 jab a wide berth that they risk being barred from accessing the stadium once the league returns.

“After one is vaccinated, the ministry issues a unique number which will be captured in the passport. Those who will not have been vaccinated will not be allowed in the stadium. We are taking this route to ensure there is minimal disease prevalence in the sport,” Mwenda said.

However, Makolanders’ forward Harriet Fakhiri has taken issue with the way the exercise was conducted without prior sensitization or room for a choice for the players.

“We were compelled to take the jab or risk losing our playing careers which should not be the case. Additionally, many had and still have fears of possible side effects of the drug. There should have been a sensitization exercise where we meet health official and ask all the questions we have on the vaccine.

“Additionally, the chance to play has been pegged on the vaccine leaving us no option. There are players that, for various genuine reasons, have stayed away from the vaccine so does that mean that they will have to stop playing when action resumes and if they are allowed to play wouldn’t it have been fair to give all the players a choice on whether to be vaccinated or not?” Fakhiri questioned.

Fakhiri further says possibilities of allergies, unknown pregnancy and other conditions were not considered before the vaccine was administered on WPL players.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), while pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe COVID-19, very little data are available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy.

It recommends that pregnant women may receive the vaccine if the benefit of vaccinating a pregnant woman outweighs the potential vaccine risks but that should be done in consultation with their health care provider.

Additionally, WHO 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 for persons younger than 18 years of age pending the results of further studies thus leaving several WPL teams that have a good number of their players under the age of 18 in a tight spot.