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University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari was sidelined with COVID-19 during the summer.
He confirmed at a Tuesday press conference that he became ill despite getting the recommended vaccine. He was in New Jersey in July when he started to experience symptoms.
"My symptoms were so mild that I was good. It took me — I had some aches and pains and stuff. Never got a fever, never got the headache, nothing but I was positive," the coach said.
Despite not being terribly ill, Calipari decided not to attend the NBA Draft even though UK players were picked in the first and second rounds. He also skipped summer recruiting events because he was quarantining.
Calipari decided not to make his diagnosis public in July because he didn't want to discourage others from getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I’m not telling anyone what to do with their body. I’m telling you what happened to me and what’s happened to my friends and I care about — my concern is 12 players and our fans. I don’t want to hear anybody die because they didn’t do it (get the shot). I’m just saying, it doesn’t say you’ll never get it. But the chances of something severe happening are really, really low," he said.
He also admitted to getting the vaccine despite not liking needles.
"When I see a needle, I am about to faint. So, you’ll never see a tattoo on this body. What?! A tattoo? No. Because I’m not taking a needle," he said.