King, who worked with the Biden administration last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark law ensuring equal opportunity for women and girls in sports in the United States, reached out to her contacts at the White House on his behalf. The Professional Tennis Players Association, a new organization that Djokovic will lead from 2020, has also been active in its contacts.
IMG, the sports and entertainment company that represents Djokovic, enlisted its government relations and immigration teams, which often work with the government on regulatory matters and ensure entry for its foreign clients under routine circumstances.
For IMG, the interest goes beyond its relationship with Djokovic. The company owns the Miami Open franchise. IMG executives reached out to Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who along with another Florida Republican, Senator Rick Scott, Wrote a letter Biden Urges Administration to End Vaccination Requirement
One person not involved is Endeavor’s chief executive Ari Emanuel of IMG. Emanuel’s brother, Rahm Emanuel, was Obama’s chief of staff during his first term. His other brother, Ezekiel J. Emanuel was a health policy adviser in the Obama White House. While Ari Emanuel may eventually step in on Djokovic’s behalf, it’s unclear whether that will help. That could backfire, causing the Biden administration to worry about the optics of helping someone with access to the highest levels of government.
For Haas and other supporters of Djokovic, even some experts on infectious diseases, the continued ban on unvaccinated foreign travelers remains perplexing. No need to get boosters. Thus, anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two years ago, which is moderately effective and whose health benefits have long since expired, can enter the country, but unvaccinated people, even if they tested negative before then, cannot. Boarding the plane.
Gigi Kronwall, an immunologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, is a big proponent of vaccination for the health of those who are vaccinated and everyone around them, but she admitted that the vaccine could have been given two years ago. Little protection today. He also said that a rule like the one in force is unlikely to force unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.
“If they don’t do it by now, I don’t know if it will provide any incentive,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the CDC said last month it was the result of a presidential declaration that deviated from the health emergency rules the Biden administration plans to expire on May 11. .
The Biden administration has said it will defer its decision on the rule and all other policies related to Covid-19 to health experts.
