Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has had a roller-coaster first month of 2022. He flew to Australia to participate in this year’s edition of the Australian Open (AO) with the hopes of winning his 21st grand slam. This win would have made him an all-time great with 21 slams, with his closest rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal having won 20 each. But the events which unraveled followed his landing Down Under made headlines across the sporting world. Novak Djokovic has refused to take Covid-19 vaccine and therefore, the procedure of his participation which was subject to protocols placed in the view of COVID19 pandemic (and mandatory vaccinations) and which were supposed to be legal in nature, quickly took a murky political colour, resulting in unfavourable headlines for the Serbian, the tournament, and the Australian government as well. Here is a detailed explainer as to why Djokovic has not taken the vaccination:
1. When the COVID19 pandemic began back in April 2020, Djokovic had claimed in a Facebook chat with fellow Serbian players that he opposed protocols making vaccinations mandatory for international travels. This had come at a time when the vaccine-making process had not even begun. He is also said to have little regard for necessary health protocols, such as masks and social distancing, as he organised the Adria tour in Belgrade and Croatia in June 2020. The tournament had full crowds and little respect for social distancing, for which Djokovic was heavily criticised. Djokovic contracted COVID19 after he claimed he had partied at a Belgrade club with fellow tennis players.
2. Djokovic, however, did clarify that he did not doubt the efficacy of some vaccines.” My issue here with vaccines is if someone is forcing me to put something in my body. That I don’t want. For me that’s unacceptable,” he told the New York Times. Further adding, he said that he was not against vaccination of any kind, saying that they have “helped stop the spread of some infections around the world.” But he was strictly against forced vaccination. He casted his doubts about the efficiency of COVID19 vaccines claiming that they will not solve the problem (spreading of infection) given that the virus was mutating regularly.
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3. Djokovic had always been ambiguous about his vaccine status, claiming his right not to reveal it. “I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not,” he said to Serbian newspaper Blic. He said that vaccination is a polarising matter and hence he chose not to divulge it. “Too many people today allow themselves such freedom to ask things and condemn a person. Whatever you answer – ‘Yes, I didn’t, maybe, I don’t know, I’m thinking!’ – they will abuse it,” he said to the newspaper Blic. And in this tense, uncertain environment, he also questioned the role of the media in disseminating information. “The media has become… I have no word how to describe it. It spreads fear and panic among people, and I don’t want to participate in that rift. I feel that everyone is hostile,” he added.
4. His vaccination led to controversy surrounding his participation in the Australian Open. He was initially given an exemption but following a public uproar, his visa was revoked, and he was deported. Recently, French Sports Minister said that for players to be participating in the French Open, they will have to be vaccinated.
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5. On 19th January, Reuters reported that Novak Djokovic had purchased 80% of Danish biotech firm QuantBioRes, aiming to develop a medical treatment against COVID-19. Some commentators have asked whether Djokovic, by refusing to take the covid vaccine that is avialable in the market presently, is waiting for his firm's treatment to hit markets. If Djokovic takes that treatment then it will boost the sales of his biotech firm. However, these are pure speculations as Djokovic has not given any such hints.
