NFL ALUMNI ENCOURAGE COVID-19 VACCINATION IN INDIANAPOLIS
Former NFL Players Promote Vaccine Confidence Through Awareness & Education Campaign; Will Host Virtual Town Hall with Public Health Experts on April 12
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 12, 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 Indianapolis. NFL Alumni Indianapolis Chapter President and former Indianapolis Colts guard Rick DeMulling, NFL Alumni Indianapolis Chapter Vice President and former Colts defensive end Chukie Nwokorie, and former Colts linebacker and Super Bowl champion Gary Brackett 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 Indianapolis Chapter in collaboration with Indiana University and the Indiana Department of Health, will host a live, virtual townhall on Tuesday, April 12 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 Aaron Carroll, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Chief Health Officer at Indiana University, J. Marc Overhage, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Anthem, and Pam Pontones, Deputy State Health Commissioner and State Epidemiologist at the Indiana Department of Health. Reed Tuckson, M.D., chair 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 DeMulling. “We’re excited to host this opportunity for people who have questions about vaccination to ask the health experts directly and get the answers they need.”
“I would encourage anyone who may be still on the fence to talk to your doctor or trusted health care provider to get the information you need to make the informed decision to get vaccinated,” said Brackett. “I had questions, too, but after talking to my doctor, I chose to get the vaccine because I felt it was the best way to protect me and my family from getting COVID-19.”
People can register and submit questions for the townhall at https://bit.ly/3j9fnFk. 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, Detroit, the Gulf Coast, 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.
