Two hundred thirty-two million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in the United States. There are roughly 96 million fully vaccinated individuals in the United States, about 30% of the population. As the 2021 baseball season began, members of the media questioned players in regards to being vaccinated or not. Many (most) players would not reply to the question and gave the impression that they had been instructed not to answer it.

My how things have changed.

On Sunday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that 70% of players, on-field staff, and support personnel had been fully or partially vaccinated for the novel coronavirus in an email to the Associated Press.

“I think we’re around 70%. The clubs have worked really hard with their players,” Manfred said. “We’re continuing to press to try to get everybody up above that kind of 85[%] number that we think is so important.”

On March 29, MLB told players that once they reached an 85% vaccination mark, they would start relaxing COVID-19 protocols. Relaxed protocols would allow players to gather without masks in hotel rooms, carpool together, play cards on airplanes, eat at restaurants, meet outdoors while on the road with anyone of their choosing and stay at personal residences when traveling, to name a few. Individuals would not have to wear a mask while exercising, and there would be a reduction of COVID testing to twice weekly. Players exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 would not have to quarantine after exposure, as long as they are asymptomatic. Teams that achieve an 85% vaccination rate can have amenities back in their clubhouses, such as pool tables, video games, and saunas.

Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked if his team was at the 85% mark yet, with several of his players having received vaccinations following Monday night’s game.

“I do know we’re not there yet,” Roberts answered. “I don’t think the recent ones [on Monday night] … I think we’re pretty close; we’re in the 80 percentile, I don’t know if it’s 85%. I know I’m fully vaccinated. So, we’re trying to get there, we’re just not quite there yet, and I don’t think this one [on Monday night] will … maybe in a little over a week, we’ll be there, hopefully.”

Managers have stated that they would encourage players to get vaccinated. They would also respect players’ wishes that do not wish to be vaccinated. It may not be long before there is a sense of normalcy in everyone’s clubhouse. By wearing masks and getting vaccinated, we may all get a sense of normalcy soon. Some day we can all return to the stands and cheer on our teams.

Play Ball!

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