When promoting vaccination against the novel coronavirus, Anthony Muñoz and Solomon Wilcots hasten to remind that they are not doctors. But the former Cincinnati Bengals stars said their playing days did teach them a lot about medicine.
That experience gets deployed Saturday when NFL Hall of Famer Muñoz, longtime NFL broadcaster Wilcots and other members of the NFL Alumni Cincinnati Chapter appear for handshakes and autographs at a mobile vaccination event at the Holmes High School fieldhouse in Covington.
“One of the analogies I use,” Muñoz said Thursday, “is that in college, I had three knee operations in four years. In that time span, I listened to my orthopedic surgeon who repaired me, I listened to my trainers, I listened to the strength and conditioning experts, and I did it so I could get back on the field.”
“Many of us, as athletes, we will do anything to stay in the game,” Wilcots said in an interview Thursday. “When we played, and trained hard, took care of our bodies, we understood that taking care of our health allowed us to make a living, allowed us to fulfill our dreams.”
The NFL Alumni, an organization of former players, said in a statement more than 50 of its members are now engaged in a campaign with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to boost vaccination nationwide with appearances, public service announcements and social media activity.
Across Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky, vaccinations rates have been slowly rising in the surge of the delta variant. The regional Health Collaborative reported Thursday that 68% of people over 12 in the area have received at least one shot of vaccine. The regional goal is 80% by the end of the year.
Muñoz has been active on the offensive line for vaccination, appearing in a video from the Ohio Department of Health in the spring and visiting sites in Las Vegas and Southern California. Thursday, he was driving home to Mason from another vaccination event in Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I’m not an expert,” Muñoz said. “I’m not telling people to do it or not to do it, you’re in the doghouse if you don’t. I think my message is pretty clear. Educate yourself, and you make the decision.”
Saturday’s event is the first that Wilcots has appeared for vaccination, but he said he has been talking about the need for the defensive tool. “I tell people they are at a greater risk of attracting the COVID-19 virus than from anything that can happen from getting the vaccination.”
Other former Bengals expected at Saturday’s event are Jim Breech, David Wilkins, David Fulcher and Robert Jackson. Also on hand will be health care providers from St. Elizabeth Healthcare and the Northern Kentucky Health Department.
The event is from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Holmes High School, 2500 Madison Ave., Covington.
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