Charles Barkley Thinks NBA And NFL Players Should Receive ‘Preferential Treatment’ For Vaccines

The NBA has had to postpone several games early this season because of positive COVID tests and contact tracing. Speaking on TNT’s Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley argued that NBA and NFL players should get “preferential treatment” to receive the vaccine because of the high taxes they pay. Barkley has made some bold statements, but this is a pretty hot take even for him.

Charles Barkley: NBA and NFL players should get 'preferential treatment' for vaccine because of the taxes they pay (via @gifdsports) pic.twitter.com/Yahjph5aAS

— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) January 15, 2021

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“As much taxes as these players pay, they deserve some preferential treatment”, said Charles Barkley. Kenny Smith, arguing that it was a matter of life and death, strongly disagreed with Barkley.

My opinion on Charles Barkley’s statement is as follows: it’s ridiculous. To reiterate what Kenny said, the amount of money you make should not determine your ability to obtain the vaccine in a timely manner. However, I would be alright with professional sports using their resources to obtain vaccines for their players, coaches, and other personnel after vulnerable seniors, people with co-morbidities, and frontline health and education workers. But that is by no means preferential treatment.

As far as the NFL goes, the ship has already sailed. We are just weeks away from the Super Bowl, so by the time players received the vaccine and were immunized the season would be over.

The bottom line concerning Charles Barkley’s statement is that professional athletes are just people. Most of them are at no higher risk than the average person. Giving them preferential treatment for vaccines based on their income and resources would simply be unjust and would come at the expense of many more lives.

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