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The NFL released a memo on Tuesday that stated all Tier 1 and 2 team employees must receive COVID-19 vaccinations to receive full access to facilities and to interact with players.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news of what is in essence an NFL COVID-19 vaccine mandate:
There is a caveat in the memo, as Pelissero points out, that an employee with “bona fide medical or religious ground” can avoid a COVID-19 vaccine.
Teams have also been ordered to use their stadiums as vaccination sites.
COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed all across the country as the U.S. continues to recover from the pandemic.
The coronavirus had a massive impact on the 2020 NFL season, as many players and coaches were forced out of action after testing positive for the virus. The NFL reportedly lost $4 billion in revenue due to COVID-19.
A virtual offseason program was the byproduct of the unforeseen circumstances, but that’s actually led the NFL players association to advocate for continuing that trend, especially since injuries were down this past season.
Numerous safety protocols were put in place to ensure the safety of players and employees throughout last season to ensure it was seen through to its completion. The hope is this step to push vaccines will help the NFL and the rest of the country return to relative normalcy.