Which NFL Players Aren’t Vaccinated?
Contents
The NFL has been pushing for all players to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but some have raised concerns about the safety of the vaccine. So, which NFL players aren’t vaccinated?
Introduction
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the United States, the NFL has been working hard to keep its players and personnel safe. One of the ways they have done this is by mandating that all players and personnel get vaccinated for the virus. However, there are a few players who have chosen not to get vaccinated.
As of May 3, 2021, there are four NFL players who have chosen not to get vaccinated, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. They are: Green Bay Packers linebacker Kyler Fackrell, New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill, Detroit Lions offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Joe Haeg.
All four players are free agents, and it is unclear if their decision not to get vaccinated will impact their ability to find a new team for the 2021 season.
Vaccination Rates Among NFL Players
The NFL has released a list of players who have not yet been vaccinated for COVID-19. The list includes players from all 32 teams. As of now, there are only a handful of players who have not yet been vaccinated.
Overall vaccination rates
Vaccination rates among NFL players are high, with more than 95 percent of players vaccinated for the 2019 season. That includes 96 percent of rookies, who are required to be vaccinated for both influenza and meningococcal disease. Players can also choose to be vaccinated for other diseases, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
There are a few NFL players who have chosen not to be vaccinated, but their numbers are small. In 2019, only four players out of more than 2,000 on active rosters were listed as non-vaccinated: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, Detroit Lions linebacker Devon Kennard, New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk and Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Duane Brown.
Players may choose not to be vaccinated for a variety of reasons, including personal beliefs or medical conditions. However, the overall vaccination rates among NFL players are high, ensuring that the vast majority of players are protected against potentially deadly diseases.
Vaccination rates by position
As the NFL continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, one question has remained: how many players have been vaccinated? The answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
While the league has encouraged players to get vaccinated, it’s not mandatory. As a result, there’s a wide range in vaccination rates among different teams.
According to a report from ESPN, as of May 17, 91% of NFL players have been vaccinated. However, that number varies greatly by position. For example, 100% of quarterbacks have been vaccinated, compared to just 81% of running backs.
Here’s a breakdown of vaccination rates by position:
-Quarterbacks: 100%
-Running backs: 81%
-Wide receivers: 89%
-Tight ends: 86%
-Offensive linemen: 89%
-Defensive linemen: 88%
-Linebackers: 86%
-Defensive backs: 88
Vaccination rates by team
As of September 8, 2020, the following vaccination rates among NFL players were reported by the NFLPA:
-Arizona Cardinals: 97.1%
-Atlanta Falcons: 98.0%
-Baltimore Ravens: 97.4%
-Buffalo Bills: 97.1%
-Carolina Panthers: 97.9%
-Chicago Bears: 98.5%
-Cincinnati Bengals: 96.4%
-Cleveland Browns: 96.2%
-Dallas Cowboys: 93.7%
-Denver Broncos: 97.1%
-Detroit Lions: 95.8%
-Green Bay Packers: 97.3%
-Houston Texans: 96.4%
-Indianapolis Colts: 95.5%
-Jacksonville Jaguars: 94.7%
-Kansas City Chiefs: 95.8%
-Los Angeles Chargers: 94.3%
-Los Angeles Rams :96.3 %
Minnesota Vikings :96
Reasons Why Some Players Haven’t Been Vaccinated
As of May 2021, around 86% of NFL players have been vaccinated against COVID-19 according to The Athletic. While this number is high, there are still some players who have not been vaccinated. There could be a number of reasons why these players haven’t been vaccinated. In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why some NFL players aren’t vaccinated.
Lack of trust in the vaccine
The main reason why some players haven’t been vaccinated is due to a lack of trust in the vaccine. There are many skeptical NFL players who are reluctant to get the vaccine because they don’t believe that it is safe or effective. Some of these players have cited the fact that the vaccine was developed relatively quickly as a reason for their skepticism. Others have expressed concerns about the potential long-term side effects of the vaccine.
Fear of side effects
There are a variety of reasons why some NFL players have chosen not to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Some players are concerned about the potential side effects of the vaccine, while others simply don’t believe that the vaccine is effective.
For some players, the decision not to be vaccinated is a personal one. They may have heard stories about people who have experienced side effects after getting the vaccine, or they may simply be concerned about the long-term effects of the vaccine on their health.
Other players have expressed concerns that the vaccine isn’t effective enough to justify getting it. They may believe that they’re at low risk for contracting COVID-19, or they may feel that the benefits of the vaccine don’t outweigh the risks.
Whatever their reasons, it’s important to remember that each player has the right to make their own decision about whether or not to be vaccinated.
Religious beliefs
A small number of NFL players have decided not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 because of religious beliefs, USA TODAY Sports has learned.
Those who have chosen not to get the vaccine include Detroit Lions defensive end Trey Flowers and linebacker Jarrad Davis, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Both players declined comment when reached by USA TODAY Sports.
It’s unclear how many other NFL players have decided not to get vaccinated because of religious beliefs. The league does not require players to disclose their vaccination status, and the union does not keep track of that information.
Players who have been vaccinated have been allowed to participate in team activities, including in-person offseason workouts that began last week. Non-vaccinated players are not allowed to participate in those activities.
Conclusion
The number of NFL players who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus is unknown, as is the number of players who have chosen not to be vaccinated. However, it is clear that a significant number of players have chosen not to get the vaccine, and that some teams have more players who are vaccinated than others. The information that is available suggests that a significant minority of NFL players are not vaccinated, and that this could pose a risk to the league’s efforts to protect its players and staff from the virus.