Conor McGregor has always disliked being told what to do, so it should come as no surprise that he is no fan of COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
McGregor (22-6) has long been a man that goes through life by the beat of his own drum. He is a brash free spirit that has endeared himself to tens of millions of fans around the world. And also has become familiar with local law enforcement and courtrooms in different parts of the globe too. The Irishman is also a very opinionated individual but rarely does he weigh in on major political and social issues. That is until recently.
The ongoing COVID pandemic and government strategies to combat it has been a divisive topic not only in the US but across the globe. Wearing masks and deciding to take the various vaccines offered has been a hot-button topic. In November, McGregor used his Twitter account to blast Irish Health Service Executive, Paul Reid for his public warnings about the strain on the healthcare system after Ireland saw a surge in COVID cases.
Conor McGregor ain’t about COVID-19 vaccine mandates
“Half a mill per annum our “chief” is on. Not including perk. All I have seen from this individual is the same identical statement over and over and over again,” McGregor wrote last month. “Our healthcare system is under strain. You are not paid to make this statement. You are paid to fix it! Do. Your. Job!”
On Friday, the former two-division UFC champion decided to give his thoughts on what has been a schismatic issue in many countries: vaccine mandates. The topic has led to some backlash across the globe despite many health experts believing widespread vaccine use is the fastest way to end a pandemic that has lasted nearly two years. However, with few countries having more than half of citizens fully inoculated, mandates have been a tactic by governments and private organizations to try and push vaccine numbers higher.
When it comes to “Notorious’” views on the issue, he isn’t anti-vaccine, he’s just anti-mandate.
“Forcing anyone to inject something into their body they do not wish to is abhorrently wrong. I am not against vaccines, I am against not having the choice,” McGregor wrote. “God bless those who think otherwise.”
Several nations, including Indonesia, have already mandated vaccines for all adults. Many others have chosen to impose mandates for government workers and on certain forward-facing industries. Austria will make both the jabs mandatory starting in February, and on Thursday European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was “understandable and appropriate” for nations to debate if vaccine mandates are a necessary means to curb further outbreaks and variants.
Over five million people have died from more than 264 million cases worldwide. Just over 5,700 have died from the virus in Ireland.
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