Sportscasters delved into the controversial topic of potential COVID-19 vaccine and booster side effects among athletes over the weekend in a rare off-script moment on Australian TV.

Channel 9 Now’s AFL Sunday Footy Show hosts discussed soccer players dealing with a host of problems, including “heart issues,” before talking about booster shots. 

“He’s subbing out of the game on Thursday night for nausea/heart reasons. He spent time in the hospital, and it’s just a big unknown as to when he will play again. It may be as soon as this week, but nothing coming out of the club,” the host said. “There’s a lot of this going on in world sports at the moment.” 

“I think a lot of athletes have got these issues, and you referred to the booster shots. Look, it’s been discussed. I haven’t been able to get an official line on that from anyone at this stage, but yeah, the question is being asked and put to me and others, including yourself, by a lot of people,” he continued.

One panellist also referenced how another member of the show is still dealing with Bell’s Palsy after taking the vaccine. 

“It’s not just the heart issues. I mean, like you know, without delving into your private affairs. You’ve got Bell’s Palsy at the moment, which hopefully you’re on the back end of that, but there’s a bit of that going around as well,” the panellist said. 

“Exactly. Heart issues and Bell’s Palsy has gone through the roof since the boosters and COVID issues, so no doubt,” another panellist added. “There’s a ward filled with people with similar symptoms in Adelaide, so nausea [and] heart issues so there has to be something more to it.” 

Of course, the host had to interject by signalling that he’s not an “anti-vaxxer” and that all of the people present did their “due diligence” by getting their booster shot. 

“We’re not anti-vaxxers. We’ve all done our due diligence with our booster shots and all that sort of stuff but there is going to have be some study done on this not just in the sporting sphere yet but you know like a community,” said the host. 

One of the top women golfers Nellie Korda, recently revealed that she was hospitalized for blood clots after contracting COVID-19. She is fully vaccinated.

“It wasn’t the start of the year I had hoped for, to say the least. 2022 began with me getting COVID-19 the second week of January, which kept me off my feet for some time before the beginning of the LPGA season. Then followed up with a blood clot,” Korda wrote on social media. 

“I recently underwent surgery for a blood clot in my subclavian vein. I am pleased to report that the procedure went well, and the doctors were happy with the outcome. I am now home recovering and preparing to start rehab. I am looking forward to getting back to 100 per cent so I can begin practicing.”