JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The drive to get more people vaccinated doesn’t stop in Jacksonville.
“Really, what we want to do is drive the crowd out here to educate them about their own health, their own immunization shots with the COVID vaccine,” former Jaguars linebacker and NFL Alumni Jacksonville Chapter President Najee Goode said.
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In partnership with the Duval County Health Department, the NFL Alumni Jacksonville Chapter is promoting vaccine confidence.
Former Jaguars linebackers Najee Goode and Kyle Bosworth want to highlight the importance of educating yourself.
“I think information and education is something that can be always and ever-lasting,” Bosworth said.
According to the health department, 73% of Florida’s vaccine-eligible populations have been fully vaccinated. In Duval County, 64% have been fully vaccinated.
The event aimed to raise that number, giving out free Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
In order to have vaccine confidence, Goode and Bosworth want the public to have all the facts.
“I understand there’s a lot of gray area around it and that’s why people need to be health-conscious,” Goode said.
“I think it’s very important to understand what’s going on in the world and get information about COVID-19 and how it’s affected, literally, the course of humanity,” Bosworth said.
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Goode said COVID-19 hit home for him.
“I’ve actually had teammates and close friends and family members who have been affected,” Goode said.
Fans met with the players with big smiles and full support.
“It’s great, I mean we need all the push we can get to get people to jump in here and get their vaccines. It’s a lot of people that aren’t vaccinated,” fan Brenda Salvas said.
The former Jags players join more than 50 current and former NFL players participating in the vaccination awareness effort.
You can learn more at NFL Alumni Health.