More than 150 personnel receive first COVID shot

The Broncos held a voluntary vaccination opportunity Wednesday and more than 150 members of the organization received their first dose.

Several coaches and players who had not previously started the process were administered the Pfizer vaccine and their second shot will be May 13.

General manager George Paton, coach Vic Fangio and several assistant coaches had previously started the vaccination process.

“We believe the safest option for this community is to get the shot and I believe the (NFL) is also sending that message by requiring Tier 1 and Tier 2 staff who closely interact with the team to get vaccinated,” said Broncos vice president of strategic initiatives Brittany Bowlen said during a video conference.

Tier 1 and 2 employees are coaches, members of the training and coaching staffs and executives who are in daily or semi-frequent contact with the players.

Players are not required to get vaccinated. Earlier this week, Dr. Michelle Barron, UC Health’s senior director of infection prevention and control, held an informational Zoom sessions with Broncos employees and players.

“We’re in this race now where we have to combat the COVID spread by getting vaccinated,” Barron said. “Having the Broncos do this is amazing. This vaccine is probably the most exciting thing we’ve seen in modern medicine in years and decades because of how safe it is and how well it works.”

On April 1, Pfizer announced its vaccine was 91.3% effective against COVID-19 and 100% effective against severe disease.

Bowlen, whose father, Pat, owned the Broncos from 1984 until his passing in June 2019, was tasked last year by president/ CEO Joe Ellis to lead the team’s coronavirus response plan that included the training facility and Empower Field at Mile High.

“I wouldn’t present this as a challenge; it was an opportunity for me to really lead in the organization and it allowed me to get to know really everyone because this required entire processes to change for us to re-think how we’ve been doing events, how we’ve been running training camp, how we eat in the cafeteria,” Bowlen said. “It allowed me to work with so many colleagues and that was really incredible and something I don’t know if I would have had the opportunity to do (if not for COVID-19).

“We have created an incredibly safe (working) environment and the teamwork that went into developing those policies and keeping our fans and organization safe gives me encouragement for my next opportunity in the future.”

Bowlen said director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos and executive vice president of human resources Nancy Svoboda have “set the standard” for the Broncos’ response efforts.

The introduction of vaccines to the country will hopefully lead to full stadiums around the NFL this fall — a goal of commissioner Roger Goodell.