Report: Over half of players received COVID-19 vaccine shot

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: More than half of NFL players have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/15/21

The NFL and NFL Players Association have insisted players cannot be cut this spring, summer or fall because they elect against receiving one of the available COVID-19 vaccine shots, but those entities are encouraging all league employees to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Tuesday that over half of the players on rosters have received at least one vaccine shot. He added:

Other NFL vaxx stats so far:

30 teams have 95%+ Tier 1/2 staff vaccinated; the other two are 90%+

16 teams have 51+ players fully vaccinated or in the process

No surprise player vaccinations have lagged behind staff. NFL, NFLPA continue to talk on COVID protocols for camp.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 15, 2021

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy and Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have spoken publicly about wanting to reach at least the 85% vaccination threshold among players to allow for the loosening of certain health and safety protocols ahead of training camp sessions and preseason games. As Michael David Smith noted for Pro Football Talk, it's unclear if any club has hit that mark as of the middle of June.

To compare, MLB and the MLBPA announced last Friday that nearly 84% of all Tier 1 employees were considered fully vaccinated against the coronavirus at that time. Unlike with the NFL, however, MLB personnel and players have been together since spring training and, thus, had work-related reasons to get vaccinated well before summer's arrival.

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