Court transcripts confirm Novak Djokovic is unvaccinated

Shahida Jacobs
January 10, 2022

It is far from the biggest surprise, but it has been confirmed that Novak Djokovic is not vaccinated against Covid-19 following his successful court appeal against the cancellation of his Australian visa.

The world No 1 on Monday had his visa cancellation quashed as Judge Anthony Kelly ordered the Australian Government to release him from detention within half an hour of the court ruling and pay legal costs.

The drama surrounding the 34-year-old participation in the 2022 Australian Open has been dragging on for several months as Djokovic has refused to release his medical information publicly and always just stated “the freedom of choice is essential for everyone, whether it’s me or somebody else” he said in an interview in November.

“Doesn’t really matter whether it’s vaccination or anything else in life. You should have the freedom to choose, to decide what you want to do. In this particular case, what you want to put in your body.”

Novak Djokovic’s visa cancellation overturned by Australian judge

Djokovic obtained an exemption permission by Tennis Australia to compete in Melbourne, but was detained by Australian Border Force on Thursday as they believe he “failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia”.

According to Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), only fully vaccinated people are allowed to enter the country as they insisted that a Covid-19 positive result in the past six months was not sufficient.

Djokovic tested positive for Covid in December and court transcripts confirmed that he has not been vaccinated.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you. Now question regarding your vaccination, are you vaccinated?
DJOKOVIC: I am not vaccinated.
INTERVIEWER: for COVID-19? Not vaccinated?
DJOKOVIC: I am not vaccinated.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you. Have you ever had COVID?
DJOKOVIC: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: So when did you?
DJOKOVIC: I had COVID twice, I had COVID in June 2020 and I had COVID recently in – I was tested positive – PCR –16th of December 2021.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you. Sorry what was the date? 16th of December?
DJOKOVIC: 16th of December 2021, I have the documents as well to confirm that if you want I can provide…

The case appears to be far from over as the government counsel Christopher Tran notified the court that the Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke – not the minister who made the original visa cancellation – will now consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation of Djokovic’s visa.

Novak Djokovic