As madness has spread throughout the National Basketball Association (NBA) over Brooklyn Nets all-star Kyrie Irving’s defiance of the Covid-19 vaccine, questions have been raised over ethics of Covid vaccine mandates. While the NBA did not issue a Covid vaccine mandate, they quickly imposed strict guidelines for unvaccinated players ahead of the 2021-22 season. Kyrie, along with a handful of other players, declined the vaccine, instead opting to follow mask, distancing, and testing rules to stay on the court. Unfortunately for Kyrie, the state of New York as well as four other states mandated that teenagers and adults receive at least 1 dose of the vaccine in order to enter sporting facilities, with no exception being made for professional sports arenas. Along with the Covid policies, the NBA also levied hefty fines for the unvaccinated, with each game missed due to Covid protocol costing players 1/91.6. This means that Kyrie forfeits $380,000 per game missed. Kyrie’s celebrity status has spread awareness over this issue. 

Some groups of Americans have protested against the Covid vaccine mandate issued by the Biden Administration, saying that forcing people to have something injected into their body without consent in order to maintain their jobs and pay is a violation of personal freedom and liberty: They must get the vaccine, as their livelihood depends on their income, so they do not have much of a choice. However, these people do not acknowledge that various vaccine mandates have existed in the USA since the 19th century, and that many facilities, such as schools and offices, require vaccinations to be allowed entrance, meaning that people have had no choice other than to receive vaccines. 

While those opposed to the mandate also argue that the Covid vaccine is unsafe compared to other vaccines due to its accelerated development, the Covid vaccine was approved by the FDA and has been recommended to all by the CDC. As of now, the Covid-19 vaccine mandate remains in place, along with further restrictions imposed by some states. Kyrie Irving remains sidelined, unable to help the Brooklyn Nets in the coming months of the regular season. There is hope that he may eventually give in or restrictions will be relaxed, which would allow him to get back on the court for playoffs, as the Brooklyn Nets look to contend for the NBA championship.