TAMPA BAY NFL ALUMNI ENCOURAGE COVID-19 VACCINATION
Former Buccaneers Promote Vaccine Confidence Through Awareness & Education Campaign; Will Host COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on September 17
TAMPA BAY, FL (September 10, 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 Tampa Bay. Former Tampa Bay wide receiver, world champion, and NFL Alumni ambassador Michael Clayton and former Tampa Bay defensive end and NFL Alumni Tampa Bay Chapter president Walter Carter 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 kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month and encourage vaccination, the NFL Alumni Tampa Bay Chapter will team up with MCR Health, Inc., Ana G. Mendez University, Marcos Rivera of HyperTampa and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay to host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Friday, September 17. The vaccination event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ana G. Mendez University (3655 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614), and provide participants an opportunity to receive free doses of the COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), and enjoy music by DJ Moyo, giveaways, coffee, and snacks. Clayton, Carter, and other NFL alumni, including former Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and former Green Bay Packers defensive end Michael Butler, will be on-hand to meet and greet participants and sign autographs. Attendees will also be able to enter a raffle to win a player-signed NFL Alumni football. The event is one of a series of coordinated efforts by NFL Alumni and local health organizations to educate and vaccinate area residents.
“The NFL Alumni mission is caring for our own, caring for kids and caring for our community – for us, that means helping Tampa Bay and the state of Florida to rally together ‘The Buccaneer Way’ to end the pandemic,” said Carter. “We hope that by speaking out, we might 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 new, highly contagious Delta variant, millions of Americans have not yet opted to get vaccinated. Just over 53% of Florida’s vaccine-eligible populations have been fully vaccinated. The state is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new cases – per the CDC, the Delta variant is responsible for more than 92% of those new cases in Florida.
“I’ve always said that my time playing football was a steppingstone to fulfill a purpose—serving my community,” said Clayton. “Educating people about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination is critical for protecting our children, our seniors and our neighbors, and I’m proud to lend my voice to that effort.”
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.
“I care deeply for the Hispanic community as well as all other Americans that may still be hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccination. I hope to use my platform as an NFL Alumni ambassador to raise awareness and encourage vaccination education,” said Anthony Muñoz, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle. “I want people to ask the questions they have about vaccinations and get the information they need to get comfortable with making the choice to protect themselves and the people around them.”
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-Fort Worth, Detroit, the Gulf Coast, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, Richmond, Southern California 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.
