VACCINATION—herd or full—would be the key to bringing sports back in action—complete with fans—amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to sports medicine expert Dr. Jose Raul Canlas.
Canlas, taking the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as a case in point, said the pro league could hit its target of two conferences in its 46th season “without further setback.”
“The anti-Covid-19 vaccines has become the pro league’s protection to control the spread of the mutating virus around its surroundings,” Canlas, one of the PBA’s medical advisers, said. “What the PBA is doing is living and functioning with the virus around. Nearly everyone is vaccinated so it makes the activity safer.”
Canlas said that flattening the curve is not the only way for other sports leagues, particularly in the collegiate level, to return.
“The PBA is successful in having vaccinations. Public health-wise, I think NCR [National Capital Region] is in a good place,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get college students vaccinated so we can hold sports bubbles at the collegiate level.”
“The NBA [National Basketball Association], MLB [Major League Baseball], among others, are living with the virus because they can enforce vaccinations in a way,” Canlas added.
The PBA family is composed of 350 individuals—players, coaches, referees, officials and staff—who are almost 100 perfent vaccinated.
Whether it’s pure bubble or the semi-bubble, Canlas said the show would definitely go on because of the developing immunity brought about by the vaccines.
“I don’t think zero Covid-19 is practical for a population that is relatively controlled and has the resources for multiple testing and treatment,” he said. “It’s very different from a public health situation. You make it sound trivial when you say ‘show.’ I believe eventually all other activities will follow this route as vaccinations increase.”
The PBA Philippine Cup encountered at least two postponed matches because of violations in health and safety protocols at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
But as far as PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial is concerned, there’s no reason to be alarmed.
“As far as Dr. Canlas is concerned, it’s not alarming as of now. I told the team managers that—but we have to be more careful,” Marcial told BusinessMirror, adding that the league would do “whatever it takes to fight the pandemic for the sake of the basketball-loving Filipino fans.”
“We just have to fight the pandemic by following the proper protocols,” he said.
The league resumed its season last Wednesday in Pampanga after almost a month break because of rising cases of infection in the NCR. Pampanga is under a less strict modified general community quarantine.