- Jun 24, 2012
- 84,470
- 152,882
The political optics of special dispensation for a non-essential worker would be terrible. The NHL proceeding in as they are, not in a bubble, already has people saying “why not me?”.
There was already a precedent for NHL personnel, team staff and players getting access to thousands of Covid tests when they played in the bubbles during the summer. Tests that weren't available to the common mortal. Not to mention immediate results for tests when the average person had to wait weeks.
I think we're past the point where people will lambaste the NHL -- we all know they have the ability to buy vaccines privately and will use that priviledge as soon as the vaccines are available and be able to move ahead of the most vulnerable citizens in doing so -- even if, technically, the NHL's vaccines will be coming from a separate, private stock.
The optics for Canadians I would surmise, favor NHL players as a source of entertainment and diversion during the pandemic. It probably keeps people from doing more dumb stuff.