Scott Morrison Says Anti-Vaxx NRL Players Who Refuse Flu Shot Should Be Banned

It's been a long road for the National Rugby League (NRL) to get approval to kickstart the 2020 season while the coronavirus pandemic is still going on.

One of the big clauses, which the NRL has said is mandatory, for games to get underway is that every player must get a flu shot.

Since that was announced, more than a dozen players have come forward to say they object to getting the jab, according to 7News.

The NRL says that will be allowed as long as the players sign a waiver that indicates they know the risks of playing contact sport. If they contract coronavirus and the flu at the same time, they could become incredibly sick.

PA

However, the Prime Minister has weighed in on the situation and he's not happy.

Speaking to 2GB Radio, Scott Morrison said: "When I was social services minister I started the 'no jab no play' rule into the childcare facilities and I think the same rule applies there [NRL] - no jab no play."

Gold Coast Titans player Bryce Cartwright was the first and most public display of defiance against the NRL's flu jab policy.

The second rower's anti-vaxxer views were revealed last year when his wife Shanelle explained that they hadn't vaccinated their children.

Shanelle took to Instagram yesterday to defend her husband's choice not to get the flu shot.

NAPARAZZI (Flickr)

"People have the freedom to say what they like, just like we have the freedom to choose which medical procedures we undergo, but ultimately the proof is in the pudding," she wrote.

"Our kids are a picture of health. They've never had an ear infection, never had a chest infection or bronchitis, they have no neuro-developmental disorders or auto-immune disorders and are rarely ever sick.

"They've never had a round of antibiotics are any other pharmaceutical drug for that matter (yes, including Panadol). As parents we do our best with what we know, for some, health comes in a needle and it works for them.

"What we're doing is going seemingly well seeing the state of their health. So if it's not clear, we're not anti anything. We stand for medical freedom and the right to choose."

The NRL says it won't be suggesting to have Cartwright or any other player who refused to get the flu job suspended.

Topics: News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie