The NRL and the NSW government have announced a pop-up clinic will be available at Saturday’s All Stars event for anyone eligible for a COVID-19 booster.
The tent will be open from 4pm to 8pm outside CommBank Stadium, where the pre-season rugby league triple-header will be played.
NSW indigenous affairs minister Ben Franklin explained the idea.
LIVE UPDATES: Aussie Brendan Kerry eyes Olympic gold
READ MORE: Audio from Abu Dhabi GP is “really uncomfortable” says Martin Brundle
READ MORE: Police warn NRL about growing criminal ‘danger’
“Western Sydney is home to more Aboriginal people than anywhere else in Australia and because of that a lot of Aboriginal people will be attending the game on Saturday night,” he said.
“We know that vaccines work and that boosters work. Even though the Aboriginal take-up of vaccines has been high and good, it is still lower than non-Aboriginal people so we are still keen for as many Aboriginal people to take advantage of the boosters as they possibly can.”
The NRL has not mandated COVID-19 vaccines – as the AFL has – but the extreme majority of club players and staff are vaccinated against the virus to help ensure the season remains on track.
Only a small fraction of NRL players remain unvaccinated. North Queensland captain Jason Taumalolo this week engaged in a strange press conference where he refused to discuss his status.
NRL boss Andrew Abdo is keen to have players promote the vaccine message.
“It is terrific that the players have shown a lot of initiative in promoting vaccinations and boosters,” Abdo said.
“We have a pop-up centre here at the stadium and the public health orders are in place.
“The majority of NSW is vaccinated and there is a strong case for all of us to get boosted because we know that it is safe.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!