Urging its teams to “easily and conveniently” make COVID-19 vaccines available for all players, the National Football League is offering altered virus protocols for all those who get vaccinated. 

Players who have been vaccinated will have to get tested weekly for COVID-19  instead of every day, as per the memo obtained by US media and the NFL Network. The modification has been made through an agreement between the NFL Players Association and the league. 

The memo said, “All clubs should continue their efforts to educate about available vaccines to maximize vaccine acceptance among their staffs, players, and family members.”

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“Each club should make the vaccine easily and conveniently available through a ‘Vaccination Day’ or other programs, and we will continue to work with the joint NFL-NFLPA committee to develop additional educational material that communicates the benefits of the vaccine to players, staff and families. All clubs are participating in this effort,” it added. 

Additionally, the players will no longer be required to quarantine even if they had a “high-risk contact” with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. They would not have to submit to “entry” testing in the wake of travel, reported AFP. 

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However, vaccinated players will still be required to wear masks, and use tracking devices meant to facilitate contact tracing in team facilities. 

The updated protocols were decided after taking advice about the reduced risk of fully vaccinated individuals becoming infected from medical and scientific experts, the league said.