Vikings bringing in epidemiologist to speak to team as vaccination rate continues to lag

Vaccination has been a primary topic during the preseason for the Minnesota Vikings, and they’re going all the way to bringing in a doctor to talk to the players about it.

Ahead of a night training camp practice in late-July, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback room was hit with a COVID-19 situation. Rookie signal caller Kellen Mond tested positive, while Kirk Cousins and Nate Stanley were deemed high-risk close contacts. Based on the NFL’s protocols, Cousins and Stanley being labeled high-risk close contacts meant they were not vaccinated.

Subsequent reporting said the Vikings had the lowest player vaccination rate in the league. Head coach Mike Zimmer has openly voiced his frustration with the situation, with Cousins as an unnamed but obvious target of his ire. Upon his return to practice in early August after clearing protocols, Cousins again showed his patent inability to read situations. If there was any question about his vaccination status, and there shouldn’t have been, it was gone then.

The Vikings are literally getting a doctor

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Vikings are bringing in an epidemiologist and infectious disease expert to talk to the team on Monday. The team’s vaccination rate is still lagging behind other NFL teams.

Cousins is not the only prominent Vikings who has at minimum dodged the vaccination question. Wide receiver Adam Thielen and safety Harrison Smith might not be vaccinated either, but to be clear that is unclear. In a broader sense, if other players see that supposed team leaders aren’t vaccinated an “if he won’t do it, why should I?” question is obvious. But while Cousins, Thielen and Smith are secure in their status on the team, a lot of players who may be asking that question in their minds are surely not as secure.

The Vikings vaccination issue comes down to Zimmer wanting to operate as freely and normally as possible, based on the NFL’s rules. Bringing in a doctor feels like a last resort to convince players to get vaccinated.