Heading into the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, there were two big names in the men’s golf field who tested positive for coronavirus–Bryson DeChambeau and John Rahm. Thus, they were unable to compete for Olympic gold, silver, and bronze.
We know that Rahm has been vaccinated once, and has already tested positive twice for the disease (initially tested positive during the Memorial Tournament in Columbus when he had a humungous lead after round three), but we did not know DeChambeau’s vaccination history– until now.
One might argue that a person’s vaccination beliefs in a time of a horrendous pandemic are private. However, when a professional golfer such as 2020 United States Open champion and world number six Bryson DeChambeau makes public comments about the coronavirus vaccination and explains why he has not been vaccinated yet, a newsworthy story develops.
According to Mike Purkey of Sports Illustrated, DeChambeau said the following this past week, “The vaccine doesn’t necessarily prevent it from happening (getting coronavirus). I’m young enough, I’d rather give it [the vaccine] to people who need it. I don’t need it. I’m a healthy, young individual that will continue to work on my health. I don’t think taking the vaccine away from someone who needs it is a good thing. My dad is a perfect example. He got it [the vaccine] early on because he’s a diabetic. People like that need to get it. My mom got it. I don’t want to take away that ability.”
DeChambeau’s comments are bizzare. At first glance, he does not really seem to grasp the concept of coronavirus. Bottom line is that everybody can get the disease, no matter how old you are. Those who have not been vaccinated, can spread the disease to older people. It does not matter if you are a young, healthy individual. You can still die from coronavirus at any time.
DeChambeau is partially right. He could get the disease if vaccinated, but his chances of getting covid are smaller, and studies show that those who are vaccinated twice, receive a less severe case of coronavirus than they initially would have got without being vaccinated.
Finally, vaccines for coronavirus are available throughout the United States, and available for all over age 12. DeChambeau’s comments about older people needing to be vaccinated first had merit at the start of the pandemic, but not now. All people worldwide are encouraged to be vaccinated, regardless of how old they are. Sometimes comments made by public figures such as DeChambeau, can be more destructive than constructive. Bottom line is that if you have not been vaccinated, listen to public health officials and do so, rather than to the number six golfer in the world!
For FREE!
