According to recently released Major League Baseball protocols, the league will allow teams to relax protocols with players if 85% of the players are vaccinated from COVID-19. As teams leave their spring training homes and return to their cities, they will begin to get vaccinated en masse. MLB is watching closely.
Major League Baseball relaxing COVID-19 protocols for fully vaccinated players, staff https://t.co/wwXhGACjbB via @USATODAY
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 29, 2021
After teams have 85% of Tier 1 personnel vaccinated, they can begin loosened protocols such as not wearing masks on the bench. In order for a Tier 1 individual to be fully vaccinated, they must be fourteen days away from their second shot.
MLB’s timeline for vaccinations seems to be in line with most states and their eligibility tiers. More and more states are beginning to open vaccine eligibility to most age groups by mid-to-late April. Further, their protocols follow Center for Disease Control guidelines for vaccinated individuals. MLB takes it a step further, and wisely, will not mandate masks for individuals vaccinated.
All good news? Not in some people’s minds. A few stories have emerged from spring training, focusing on different teams, and whether or not they would reach the 85% threshold with some players wary of the vaccine. The vaccine topic could and may turn a clubhouse upside down. Imagine, for a second, your team needs one more player to be vaccinated to reach the 85% threshold to remove masks on the bench or dugout. How does that affect a locker room? Potentially, it could cause some major gaps in friendships and personalities which snowballs to the entire locker room.
One of those teams with potential for vaccine issues is the St. Louis Cardinals, explained by their manager:
Interesting to hear manager Mike Shildt say today he's not certain #STLCards will hit 85% due to some potentially choosing against vaccination. Suggested it might be close. MLB has said it can't/won't force players to get vaccinated, but relaxed protocols are clear incentive. https://t.co/0OThOJ3ut6
— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) March 29, 2021
MLB cannot force players or staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but will the league’s enforcement of protocols coupled with ‘fear of missing out’ be enough to pressure 85% of Tier 1 personnel to be vaccinated?