Novak Djokovic gets a vaccination exemption to play within the Australian Open - NPR

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Novak Djokovic will play in the 2022 Australian Open, after getting an exemption from vaccine necessities. he's seen here doing away with his masks at the 2021 ATP Cup at Rod Laver enviornment in Melbourne ultimate February. Darrian Traynor/Getty pictures hide caption

toggle caption Darrian Traynor/Getty photos

Novak Djokovic will play within the 2022 Australian Open, after getting an exemption from vaccine necessities. he's seen right here removing his masks on the 2021 ATP Cup at Rod Laver arena in Melbourne closing February.

Darrian Traynor/Getty photographs

Novak Djokovic, the accurate-ranked men's tennis participant who's additionally famously skeptical about coronavirus vaccination, will play within the Australian Open later this month, after receiving a different exemption from COVID-19 requirements.

"i am heading Down below with an exemption permission. Let's go 2022!" Djokovic introduced on several social media systems Tuesday.

The event's defending champion posted a photograph of himself smiling, next to his bags. however some of the appropriate responses to his Twitter put up had been no longer happy ones.

satisfied New yr! Wishing you all health, love & joy in each second & may additionally you consider love & appreciate towards all beings on this brilliant planet.

I've spent stunning best time with spouse and children over smash & today I'm heading Down beneath with an exemption permission. Let's go 2022! pic.twitter.com/e688iSO2d4

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January four, 2022

"The news has simply damaged right here in Melbourne and it be fair to say NoVax is going to get a sizzling reception," one commenter wrote. "now we have finished it complicated here in recent instances and standard americans consider this determination is a funny story. he is obtained no concept what he's in for."

Victoria, the state the place the tournament is performed, at the moment has 48,297 active COVID-19 circumstances, based on the latest guidance from the Victorian department of fitness. The state's vaccination application has been very valuable: 94.5% of residents a while 12 and up have gotten at the least one vaccine dose, and roughly 93% have gotten two doses.

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information of the exemption ends weeks of speculation about even if Djokovic, 34, could be allowed to compete in Melbourne despite strict guidelines on COVID-19 and vaccination. In November, the state government of Victoria cited that each one gamers and others collaborating within the Australian Open ought to be vaccinated. In response, Djokovic's father spoke of his son would now not commute to the tournament "below these blackmails and stipulations."

Djokovic has in the past refused to clarify even if he's been vaccinated. instead, he is spoken about the magnitude of free option. however he aired his skepticism of the COVID-19 vaccine from early on, announcing in April of 2020, "i would not wish to be compelled by somebody to take a vaccine so as to be able to travel."

Public fitness consultants strongly advocate vaccination to offer protection to against extreme disease from COVID-19.

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The Australian Open says the choice to grant Djokovic a medical exemption changed into made after "a rigorous overview procedure involving two separate unbiased panels of scientific consultants," including those from the state executive, in accordance with Australia's ABC community.

In December, the Victorian executive and Tennis Australia mentioned they might form an independent panel to overview requests for clinical exemptions.

"Any player who's granted a scientific exemption may have undergone a two-stage, impartial manner to investigate they have a genuine scientific circumstance that meets the criteria for an exemption," the Victorian executive referred to, in response to ABC.

Djokovic has won the past three variants of the Australian Open. Play in the 2022 tournament begins on Jan. 17 and runs through Jan. 30.

This story in the beginning appeared on the Morning edition live weblog.