Celtics all-time great Bill Russell is the latest to join the NBA‘s initiative to encourage vaccinations. Russell, at 86 years old, was eligible and the first in line for the vaccine.
Russell was filmed taking the vaccine and featured on the NBA Cares YouTube channel.
As vaccines rolled out, the league partnered with the CDC to join the fight against COVID-19 to promote vaccinations. Despite intensive advertising, many remain unsure of the vaccines and their effectiveness and safety.
Also aiding in the campaign was fellow Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Abdul-Jabbar was the first former player to receive the vaccine. Jabbar is a prime supporter of raising awareness and promoting the vaccine. He even proposed a notion to allow current players to receive the vaccine early for awareness purposes.
“When [Steph and LeBron] and other influential NBA athletes publicly get their shots, they will contribute to convincing Black and under-35 skeptics that the vaccines are safe and necessary.”
