While the Atlanta Falcons became the first NFL team to reach a vaccination rate of 100 percent, the San Francisco 49ers boast a strong COVID-19 vaccination rate too. The entire Tier 1 and Tier 2 staff has been vaccinated for some time now. Today, during a conversation with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, general manager John Lynch revealed that very few players remain unvaccinated.
"We're down to, on a 90-man roster, to four guys, I think, that aren't," Lynch said. "That's encouraging. Now, I don't know if that's fully vaccinated because the NFL has a policy where I think after the second shot or first shot (it's the second), you have to have 14 days, and then you're teamed fully vaccinated. But that process has started for all but four players on our team.
"And then everybody else in the building is (vaccinated). Our group did a really good job. We didn't mandate anything. We educated people, and I think a lot of people arrived (at the right decision).
"I talked to some counterparts (on other teams). I think it's a little easier in Northern California, where you stand out like a sore thumb if you're not, as opposed to like people in Indianapolis, where there's not a very high vaccination rate. And so I think we have an added bonus there that there's a little pressure just from where you live and the people around you."
Lynch is proud of the way his team worked with its players to make sure they had all the answers to their questions. Being fully vaccinated could give the 49ers a competitive advantage this season. They won't face as many restrictions as a team with a lower vaccination rate among its players.
"They listened to the experts and made their own decision," Lynch continued, "and it sure helps with all of the protocols that we have in place, and more importantly, it helps keep everyone healthy around here. ... There's a big advantage if you're vaccinated, and you're deemed a close-contact. If you're vaccinated, you're pretty much good.
"If you're not vaccinated, you might be out, by virtue of being around someone who may have had it, you might be out for 10 days. You can imagine, that'd be a heck of a way to lose a guy when you have that choice."
Lynch added that he respects his players' freedom to make their own decision. That's why the team required nothing.
Said Lynch: "You just try to arm them with as much information (as possible)."