NBA tells teams to wait their turn for COVID-19 vaccine

FILE – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver looks on during action between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers in game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 19, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images/AFP

The NBA has sent a memo to teams with a stern warning to follow the guidance of public health officials when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations, ESPN reported.

The memo, sent Thursday, said the league will “work to vaccinate its players and staffs consistent with the timing and prioritization set by applicable public health guidelines.”

The memo follows what commissioner Adam Silver said Monday on a conference call.

“It goes without saying that in no form or way will we jump the line,” he said. “We will wait our turn to get the vaccine. When you think about the logistical feat that now the federal and state governments are undertaking, where if every citizen ultimately requires two doses and with a population of over 300 million, it’s beyond comprehension when you start to begin to think about the logistical challenges of transporting and distributing this vaccine.”

Exceptions will be allowed for team medical staff, as well as for older staff members or those with conditions that could leave them more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, ESPN said.