Coronavirus & Schools: Leave Vaccine Decision to Parents
National ReviewJul 28, 2022
The Facts
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving can now play home games, as Mayor Eric Adams on Thurs. said NYC-based professional athletes and performers will be exempt from the city's private sector vaccine mandate.
He's set to make his season debut at Barclays Center on Sun., against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Spin
Right narrative
Irving wins. He believes that personal health decisions shouldn't be mandated, and has persevered through all the controversy. Now the Nets and their fans can focus on a playoff push without the burden of vaccine restrictions.
Left narrative
Irving was wrong during this spectacle and he and his teammates knew better. Yes, it had odd optics when he was sitting in the stands as a fan, but COVID is just messy and frustrating in general. Mandates are about keeping people safe in a deadly pandemic.
Progressive narrative
This smacks of unfair privilege for the rich and famous. Adams' awkward re-opening policy coddles elite athletes and performers like Irving, yet NYC's essential workers still have to present vaccine credentials.