SYDNEY — Australian athletes and support staff preparing for the Tokyo Olympics will be given priority for vaccines.
The Australian government on Tuesday said members of the Olympic team would be vaccinated under a priority group which includes health-care workers, Indigenous people aged over 55 and people older than 70.
The vaccination program for athletes and support staff will include about 2,000 people, including an estimated 450- 480 Olympic athletes.
Richard Colbeck, the government minister for senior Australians and aged care, said the decision would not come at the cost of at-risk Australians.
“While vulnerable Australians remain an absolute priority as the vaccine rollout continues, National Cabinet understands the pressure our high-performance athletes have been facing as the Tokyo Games draw closer,” Colbeck said in a statement.