The NFL is doing everything it can to convince players to get the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the 2021 regular season. That includes bringing in experts to talk to teams.
USA Today’s Mike Freeman reports Dr. Michael Osterholm spoke Monday to the Minnesota Vikings, which led to this tweet by the NFL reporter:
Infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm just said on MSNBC that he spoke to the Vikings team today. He said 180 million Americans vaccinated and not a single death due to the vaccine. “Aspirin isn’t that safe.”
Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
His comments came on the same day the FDA gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. They also came on the same day New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton landed in quarantine. Per ESPN:
Newton will remain away from the team until Thursday due to a “misunderstanding” on COVID-19 tests “conducted away from NFL facilities,” the club announced Monday.
Newton has refused to say if he has received the vaccine.
Osterholm’s comments also came one day after Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel tested positive for the coronavirus.