Health Officials Launch New Vaccination Initiative For College Football Fans, Urge Precautions For Labor Day

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2021/09/brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1200;s:6:"height";i:675;s:4:"file";s:62:"2021/09/brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:60:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-e1630611739896-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"1";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1630612158:113
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:11:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1200;s:6:"height";i:800;s:4:"file";s:39:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:17:"medium_large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:45:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"brayden-george-Gh7FAGIoMvo-unsplash-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Bryant Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Brayden George 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Unsplash
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_edit_last] => Array
        (
            [0] => 113
        )

)
1644380756 
1630599188
Bryant Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama

Bryant Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama

Brayden George , Unsplash

Health officials are urging residents to be cautious during the Labor Day weekend, as the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to spread across the state. University of Alabama at Birmingham epidemiologist, Suzanne Judd, said it’s important to make safe choices this weekend to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“What we do this Labor Day weekend could help end the delta variant surge or make it far worse,” Judd said.

In a press conference Thursday, UAB health experts urged people to get vaccinated and recommended masking indoors regardless of vaccination status.

“Masking during the Labor Day weekend could prevent at least 3,500 and as many as 6,000 cases over the next week,” Judd said.

This week, Alabama passed 700,000 COVID-19 cases for the first time since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations at UAB have remained at a high level for the past few weeks which has put a strain on the hospital. Compared to earlier in the pandemic, the patients are a lot healthier and younger. The average age of those hospitalized with COVID-19 is now 55 years old. The majority are unvaccinated.

Judd said she’s concerned about COVID spreading during the college football season.

“It’s the perfect storm for Alabama … yelling, screaming next to strangers in a stadium. Wearing a mask can help,” Judd said.

The Alabama Department of Health is trying to reduce that risk. The COVID vaccine will now be offered at college football games across Alabama, under a new partnership announced Thursday between the state health department and Bruno Event Team.

“This is the best college football in the country, right here in Alabama,” said Gene Hallman, president and CEO of Bruno Event Team. “So why not use this platform to convince people that they need to take that first dose?”

Football fans will be able to get vaccinated at certain games at 13 universities: the University of Alabama, University of West Alabama, University of South Alabama, University of North Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Jacksonville State, Auburn, Samford, Miles, Tuskegee, and Troy.

The schedule for those games is available on the new vaccination campaign website. People who get their shot at a game will receive a $75 gift card for team merchandise. Attendees can also get vaccinated within a two-week period before a game and upload their vaccination card to the campaign website to receive the gift card.

As part of the campaign, called “Kick COVID,” student-athletes and Miss Alabama, Lauren Bradford, will promote vaccines on social media, television and in-person at some games.

WBHM’s Janae Pierre contributed to this story.

 

It’s not all fur and games. Here’s how the Puppy Bowl works

The Puppy Bowl may look like lawless fun. But there are rules to the annual competition, now in its 21st year. Here's what to know as Team Ruff and Team Fluff hit the turf on Sunday.

What to know about presidents and security clearances

Both former President Joe Biden and President Trump have barred their predecessor access to classified information. But historically, it wasn't like that.

Buffy Sainte-Marie stripped of prestigious Canadian honor

The Canadian government did not share its reasons for the decision, but it follows an investigation that shed doubt on the Oscar-winning singer's claims of Indigenous roots.

The American tailgate: Why strangers recreate their living rooms in a parking lot

There's nothing quite like a tailgate, where fans serve food to strangers who share the same passion. We went to a Philadelphia Eagles tailgate to learn what drives this uniquely American tradition.

NIH announces new funding policy that rattles medical researchers

The National Institutes of Health has dramatically changed its grant-making terms by limiting how much it will disperse for costs such as equipment and administration.

Russell Vought takes the helm at CFPB as Musk’s DOGE accesses key systems

Vought was an architect of Project 2025. He takes over at the consumer finance watchdog as Elon Musk's representatives gained access to the bureau's systems and accounts, including sensitive data.

More Front Page Coverage