The PGA Tour strongly encourages its players and cadets to get COVID-19 vaccines, and sends out a memorandum on Monday setting out how it will eventually halt the test on site, while also trying to dispel some of the myths associated with the shots to reduce.
In the memorandum obtained by ESPN, the tour said although it should not be vaccinated, those who do not get the shots will still need to be tested for COVID-19 every week within 72 hours of arriving at the site and at your own expense. . Those who are positive about COVID-19 will have to withdraw and undergo contact problems and quarantine procedures.
Included was a set of discussion points to assure players that the vaccines are safe.
Some of the highlights:
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“The COVID 19 vaccine has been administered to more than 700 million people worldwide. Very few significant side effects have been reported. Once a vaccine has been approved for use, monitoring continues with systems to detect problems or side effects. which in clinical trials. ”
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“There are common misconceptions and concerns about infertility, altering DNA, microchips, becoming infected with COVID due to the COVID 19 vaccine. These misconceptions and concerns are false.”
There is clearly a setback from players over the receipt of vaccines. The tour began last week with a weekly test program when it resumed play after a 13-week hiatus due to the pandemic.
Players and kadies need to be tested on-site weekly, with some adjustments being made along the way. Those who do not play a tournament should be tested at home before traveling and again upon their arrival.
Overall, the system worked well for the PGA Tour, which has reported less than 30 COVID-positive tests on the premises over the past ten months. The last reported positive cases occurred at the Honda Classic last month.
“I had 60 plus Tests, all negative,” said a PGA Tour veteran who did not want to be identified. ‘Me and my caddy have been through every airport, public transport, you name it, without becoming COVID. But the tour is going to make it a pain for us if we do not take it. They do not force you, but it will be a pain if you do not. ‘
The player said he would be more receptive to getting a chance if it was the Johnson & Johnson version, which was wheeled by the Centers for Disease Control. The vaccine requires only one shot, and some players know a lot about possible side effects associated with two doses and how it can affect their playing schedule.
According to the tour, someone will consider 14 days after fully vaccinating the two-vaccine vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) as well as the one-shot Johnson & Johnson. For players residing in countries where the AstraZeneca vaccine is authorized, it will also be accepted.
According to the memorandum, the tour has a system with which verification can be uploaded to a health account.
According to the tour, the testing will stop at the end of June, which probably means that the Travelers Championship (June 24-27) or the Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 1-4) will be the starting point for the new program.
Although facials will still be needed during indoor tour events, the tour said in the memo that “according to CDC guidelines, individuals who are fully vaccinated can gather in small groups without facets.”