NFL Outlines Strict COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

The NFL has taken the strongest stance on the COVID Vaccine as a memo the league sent to teams on Tuesday was leaked out by sources. In the memo the NFL states “that team employees, other than players, should be expected to be vaccinated for COVID-19 unless they have a “bona fide medical or religious ground for not doing so.” The memo went on to state “any staffer that refuses to be vaccinated without either a religious or medical reason will not be eligible for Tier 1 or 2 status and therefore will not be permitted access to the ‘football only’ restricted area and may not work directly or in close proximity with players.” This is the strictest stance that we have seen any professional sports league take up to this point.

The reasons players are not included in this mandate is that the issue of vaccines and players would have to be negotiated between the league and the players union. Reports are however that the union is strongly encouraging all players to get vaccinated. 

The NFL memo also mandated that teams Arrange vaccination education to be available to players, personnel and their families — with league medical officials available to provide information and answer questions. As well as Notify team personnel of the relaxed protocols that will be in place for those who do take part in vaccinations, which will impact multiple layers of security already in place — from daily testing, tracking devices, close-contact standards, quarantine regulations and some travel-related changes.

Due to the current rise in COVID cases in some states certain teams have announced that they will be boycotting voluntary workouts due to an abundance of caution.