CINCINNATI NFL ALUMNI ENCOURAGE COVID-19 VACCINATION
Former Bengals Promote Vaccine Confidence Through Awareness & Education Campaign; Will Host Vaccination Clinic on October 16
CINCINNATI, OH (October 7, 2021) – A new campaign from NFL Alumni Health, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to build COVID-19 vaccination confidence in cities around the country – including Cincinnati. Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz and former Cincinnati Bengals placekicker Jim Breech are among the more than 50 players lending their voices to the education and awareness campaign, which encourages people to get informed, address their vaccine questions with their healthcare providers and make the decision to get vaccinated. The initiative will include public service announcements, a campaign website, social media posts and local events in collaboration with healthcare providers and public health organizations.
To encourage vaccination, the NFL Alumni Cincinnati Chapter will team up with St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the Northern Kentucky Health Department, and Covington Independent Public Schools, to host a mobile vaccination clinic. The event will provide an opportunity for participants to receive free doses of the COVID-19 vaccines and enjoy music, food, and giveaways. It will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 16 at the Holmes High School, Fieldhouse, located at 2500 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41014.
Muñoz, Breech, and other former Cincinnati Bengals—including NFL Alumni Vice President David Wilkins, David Fulcher, Robert Jackson, and Solomon Wilcots—will be on-hand to meet and greet participants and sign autographs. Attendees can also enter a raffle to win a player-signed NFL Alumni football. The event is the first in an anticipated series of coordinated efforts by NFL Alumni and local health organizations to educate and vaccinate individuals across the country.
“The NFL Alumni mission is caring for our own, caring for kids and caring for our community – for us, that means helping Cincinnati, the states of Ohio and Kentucky, and ‘Who Dey’ Nation rally together as a team to end the pandemic,” said Jim Breech, who serves as president of the NFL Alumni Cincinnati Chapter and organized the event. “We hope that by speaking out, we might inspire people, who may have concerns about vaccination, to talk to their doctor and make an informed decision to protect themselves, their families, and our community.”
Millions of people in the U.S. have received COVID-19 vaccines, which has undoubtedly saved many lives across the country. But, despite widespread availability of vaccines and the emergence of the new, highly contagious Delta variant, millions of Americans have not yet opted to get vaccinated. Just over 54% of Ohio’s and 61% of Kentucky’s vaccine eligible populations have been fully vaccinated. The area has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and, according to the CDC, the Delta variant is responsible for about 98% of those new cases in Ohio and Kentucky.
“I care deeply about this community,” said Anthony Muñoz, who was recently inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor and whose charitable foundation supports greater Cincinnati youth. “Vaccinations help protect the most vulnerable among us, including young children who cannot yet be vaccinated. I want people to ask their questions and get the information they need to get comfortable with making the choice to protect themselves and the people around them.”
Nationally, more than 50 current and former NFL players have agreed to participate in the vaccination awareness effort, including 20 world champions, 27 Pro Bowlers and 16 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. NFL Alumni Health is a wholly-owned subsidiary launched by NFL Alumni, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, to improve the health and wellness of NFL Alumni members and the broader public.
Other NFL Alumni Chapter cities and regions participating in the program include Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, the Carolinas, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, the Gulf Coast, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, Richmond, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.For more information about the campaign and resources, go to www.nflalumnihealth.org/covid-19.
About NFL Alumni and NFL Alumni Health
Founded in 1967 by a small group of successful retired NFL players, NFL Alumni is one of the oldest and most wellrespected retired player organizations in professional sports. NFL Alumni’s mission is to inform, assist, and serve players in their post-NFL lives. NFL Alumni Health is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NFL Alumni, which is devoted to improving the health and wellness of NFL Alumni members as well as the general public, by providing informational resources, programs and services. Visit www.nflalumnihealth.org.
