NFL ALUMNI ENCOURAGE COVID-19 VACCINATION IN DETROIT

Former NFL Players Promote Vaccine Confidence Through Awareness & Education Campaign; Will Host Virtual Town Hall with Public Health Experts on April 20

DETROIT, MI (April 19, 2022) – A campaign from NFL Alumni Health, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to build COVID-19 vaccination confidence around the country – including in Detroit. NFL Alumni Detroit Chapter President and former Detroit Lions tight end Pete Chryplewicz and former Lions offensive tackle, seven-time Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl champion Lomas Brown are among the more than 100 players lending their voices to the education and awareness campaign. The effort encourages people to get informed, discuss their vaccine questions with their health care providers, and make the decision to get vaccinated. The initiative includes public service announcements, a campaign website, social media posts, and local events held in collaboration with health care providers and public health organizations.

To encourage vaccination, the NFL Alumni Detroit Chapter and the City of Detroit, Health Department  will host a live, virtual town hall on Wednesday, April 20 at 7 p.m. ET during which leading public health experts and doctors will address questions or concerns about the vaccines from NFL alumni and the general public.  Participants include Brown; Teena Chopra, MD, Professor at Wayne State University and Director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Detroit Medical Center; Denise Fair Razo, Chief Public Health Officer, Detroit Health Department; and Robert Dunne, (Acting) Medical Director, Detroit Health Department. Reed Tuckson, M.D., co-founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID will moderate the discussion.

“The NFL Alumni’s mission is focused on caring for our own, caring for kids, and caring for the community,” said Chryplewicz. “We’re excited to host this opportunity for individuals who have questions about vaccination to ask the health experts directly and get the answers they need.”

“It’s important to get the facts so you can make an informed decision about whether to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Brown.  “I chose to get vaccinated because it was the best way to protect myself and my family. For anyone who may be still on the fence, please talk to your doctor or trusted health care provider or join us at the virtual town hall so you can get your vaccine questions answered directly by the experts.” 

People can register and submit questions for the townhall at http://bit.ly/3vgpg9Y. The live event also will be simulcast on the NFL Alumni Facebook and YouTube channels. Registered attendees will also be entered into a raffle to win an NFL Alumni care package.

Millions of people in the U.S. have received COVID-19 vaccines, which has undoubtedly saved many lives across the country. The NFL Alumni effort encourages individuals who may be “on the fence” to talk with trusted health care providers and make an informed decision about getting vaccinated.

Nationally, more than 100 current and former NFL players are participating in the vaccination awareness effort, including 29 world champions, 39 Pro Bowlers, and 16 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Since launching the campaign, NFLA Alumni Health has hosted more than 20 events around the country to promote vaccine confidence.

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, Carolinas, Chicago, Cincinnati, the Dakotas, Dallas, the Gulf Coast, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Northern California, 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.