SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NFL ALUMNI ENCOURAGE COVID-19 VACCINATION
Former Los Angeles Rams and Raiders Promote Vaccine Confidence Through Awareness & Education Campaign; Will Host Vaccination Clinic with Walgreens and Western Dental on October 30
INGLEWOOD, CA (October 22, 2021) – A campaign from NFL Alumni Health, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to build COVID-19 vaccination confidence in metro areas around the country – including southern California. Hall of Fame Los Angeles Raiders cornerback Mike Haynes, former Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl quarterback Jim Everett, NFL Alumni Southern California Chapter President and former Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys safety James Washington, and NFL Alumni Southern California Chapter Vice President and former Los Angeles Raiders fullback Jarrod Bunch 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 local NFL Alumni Southern California Chapter will team up with Walgreens and Western Dental to host a mobile vaccination clinic. The event will provide an opportunity for participants to receive free doses of COVID-19 vaccines while enjoying music, food, and giveaways. The outdoor event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 in the Western Dental & Orthodontics (3561 W. Century Boulevard) parking lot near SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Walgreens will also offer free flu shots at the event.
“I was worried about getting COVID because I am in my 60s and I was worried about my parents getting it, so I got vaccinated,” Haynes said. “I’ve talked to my family about getting vaccinated and understand some people still have concerns. My only hope is that they talk to their doctors to get their questions answered so they can make the informed decision to get the vaccine.”
Everett, Washington, Bunch, and other NFL alumni will be on-hand to meet and greet participants and sign autographs. Attendees may also enter a raffle to win a player-signed NFL Alumni football.
“The NFL Alumni mission is caring for our own, caring for kids and caring for our community – that means all of southern California,” said Washington. “We hope that Rams and Cowboys fans can unite in the effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and that, by speaking out, our alumni may inspire people who may have concerns about vaccination to talk to their doctors 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 highly contagious Delta variant, millions of Americans have not yet opted to get vaccinated. Just over 72% of Californians have been fully vaccinated, and, per the CDC, the Delta variant is responsible for nearly 99% of those new cases in California.
“While getting vaccinated remains a personal choice, it’s important to get educated and to speak to our doctors in order to make an informed decision,” said Everett. “When I realized that getting vaccinated is not just about protecting ourselves, but also our families, our friends, and our community, I chose to go for it. So looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday; we can all get our medical questions answered.”
Nationally, more than 50 current and former NFL players are participating in the vaccination awareness effort, including 20 world champions, 27 Pro Bowlers and 16 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“After my time playing New York, California welcomed me – first as a Raider and later as a member of the community and coach. I care deeply about the people of this community,” said Bunch. “Getting vaccinated helps us protect one another. If people have questions, I encourage them to talk to their healthcare providers to address their concerns and make an informed decision to protect themselves and others.”
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, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, the Gulf Coast, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, Richmond, 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.
