NFL commissioner offers up stadiums as vaccination sites

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday sent a letter to President Biden offering all 32 NFL stadiums for use as vaccination sites.

Goodell says in the letter that Biden can use each stadium and that the NFL is willing to coordinate with local, state and federal health officials.

He explained that seven stadiums are already being used as vaccination sites, and other stadiums have been used before for coronavirus testing.

Biden is still aiming to have 100 million people vaccinated in 100 days, with two vaccines out in the US market and more requesting approval. 

Goodell said the NFL has invited 7,500 vaccinated health care workers to the Super Bowl this weekend “in gratitude for their heroic service and to highlight the importance of vaccinations as our country recovers from the pandemic.”

Biden’s top coronavirus adviser, Anthony Fauci, has been optimistic about the vaccines the U.S. has, saying that they can still protect against every strain of the virus. However, he also said they are ready to change the vaccines if need be after it was discovered that the South African strain affects the efficacy of vaccines. 

Many are hopeful that as more Americans get vaccinated, more activities will get to open up, but officials have said that masks and social distancing will still be necessary for a while. 

“We look forward to further discussion with your administration as well as your partners in state and local governments to advance this effort,” the letter reads.