Ole Miss football players, staff are 100% vaccinated against COVID-19
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team has reached 100% vaccination against COVID-19, a university spokesperson confirmed to the Clarion Ledger on Sunday.
Ole Miss' players, coaches and staff have all received the COVID-19 vaccine in advance of the 2021 football season. The SEC is requiring teams reach an 85% vaccination threshold in order to opt out of COVID-19 testing protocols this fall.
ESPN's Chris Low was the first to report the news.
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At SEC Media Days in July, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said he was encouraging his players to receive the vaccine but understood there were differing opinions he would need to address within the locker room.
"You probably think everybody does it, but families have personal reasons and things," Kiffin said. "We're in a constant battle continuing to push it and we'll continue to push as we get closer."
Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral said at SEC Media Days he had been vaccinated and brought up the topic to his teammates to little response.
"We all trust each other and we all trust our beliefs but when it comes down to it, it's like, 'Man, are you willing to miss this game?'" Corral said. "I'm not going to pick one person and necessarily say, 'You're going to be the reason we forfeit this game,' but it's like, if you don't do this, we have a chance to forfeit a game and that's going to be a loss on us."
As of Aug. 6, the Mississippi Department of Health has reported 33% of Mississippi residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 39% of residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
On Aug. 5, the Clarion Ledger reported over 14,000 new cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi week over week and the death rate doubling from the previous week.
Follow Nick Suss on Twitter: @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football players, staff 100% vaccinated against COVID-19
