TOKYO: Some Japanese athletes competing in this summer’s Tokyo Olympics have expressed mixed feelings about getting vaccinated against the new coronavirus ahead of many other people in the country.

Meanwhile, others said they will receive vaccinations if that is a rule.

COVID-19 vaccinations of Japanese athletes for the Olympics are set to start in earnest on Tuesday at the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Tokyo’s Kita Ward.

On May 6, the International Olympic Committee said it will offer doses of a coronavirus vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to delegations from all countries and regions participating in the Tokyo Games.

Masayo Imura, head coach of the Japanese artistic swimming team, welcomed the move. “To be honest, I want our athletes and myself to get vaccinated as early as possible.”

Many athletes are expected to follow their teams’ decisions.

“It’s not something on which I should make my own decision,” said Yukiko Ueno, ace pitcher of the women’s softball team. “I’ll follow my team’s decision,” she added.

Yoshihide Kiryu, a male sprinter, said, “I don’t know what kind of comments I should make.”

Some athletes are confused due to insufficient information about vaccines.

A total of about 1,600 athletes and others related to the Olympics are expected to get jabs by the July 23 opening of the sporting event.

But there are fears of athletes developing side effects after getting vaccinated.

Female long-distance runner Hitomi Niiya, said, “Honestly, I’m somewhat reluctant to be vaccinated as I don’t know how it would affect my body.”

The Japanese Olympic Committee has said it “respects each athlete’s choice” regarding whether to get inoculated.

Vaccinations of athletes will be conducted by team doctors of each sport and therefore will not affect inoculations for elderly people, according to the JOC.

Still, the JOC needs to offer further explanations to athletes to allay their concerns, pundits said.

JIJI Press