JACKSONVILLE NFL ALUMNI ENCOURAGE COVID-19 VACCINATION
Former Jaguars Promote Vaccine Confidence Through Awareness & Education Campaign; Will Host Vaccination Clinic inside TIAA Bank Field before Nov. 7 Kickoff vs. Buffalo
JACKSONVILLE, FL (November 3, 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 Jacksonville, Fla. Former Jaguars linebacker and NFL Alumni Jacksonville Chapter president Najee Goode and former Jaguars linebacker Kyle Bosworth 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 Jacksonville Chapter will team up with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Florida Department of Health in Duval County to host a mobile vaccination clinic at TIAA Bank Field prior to kickoff of the Jaguars vs. Buffalo game. The event will provide an opportunity for participants to receive free doses and boosters of the Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines while getting to meet NFL Alumni. The outdoor event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7 just inside Gate 1 of TIAA Bank Field. Advanced registration is not required, but individuals receiving a second vaccine dose or Pfizer and Moderna 3rd/booster dose should bring their vaccination card.
“I have a father at high risk, a mother who works in a hospital, and family members who have gotten COVID, so I felt it was the right thing for me to get vaccinated,” said Goode. “Many NFL players deal with post-career health issues as a result of their playing days. The NFL Alumni mission is to take care of their health as well as caring for our kids and our community. I understand people may have questions about vaccination, but it’s important that you educate yourself about the vaccines and the risks of COVID-19 and do everything you can to protect yourself and the people around you.”
Goode, Bosworth, 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.
“My wife and I just had a baby. Working in real estate, I am constantly in close contact with people from all over the country, which puts me at higher risk of getting COVID,” Bosworth said. “That’s why I decided it was best for me to get vaccinated. I look forward to seeing Jaguars fans on gameday and would encourage anyone who still has concerns about vaccines to please stop by to say hi, talk to the health experts who’ll be there, and make the informed decision to get vaccinated.”
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 73% of Florida’s vaccine-eligible populations have been fully vaccinated, but that number drops to only 64% in Duval County. Per the CDC, the Delta variant is responsible for more than 98% of new cases in Florida.
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.
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, 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 well-respected 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.
