Columbus Crew say they're 'approaching 90%' of players vaccinated against COVID-19
Jacob Myers
As the Major League Soccer season nears its conclusion and absences due to contracting COVID-19 or having to quarantine could have an outsized impact on a game, the Crew revealed updated vaccinated numbers in the organization.
Crew spokesman Tim Miller said the Crew is getting close to 90% of their 30-player roster fully vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that the staff at the OhioHealth Performance Center — which includes the entire coaching and technical staffs — are 100% fully vaccinated.
"With our roster in a more firm place headed into a postseason push, the percentage of players of that are fully vaccinated is slated to increase in the coming weeks," Miller said. "Our roster vaccination rate is approaching 90 percent and we continue to engage with all players on the roster about the importance of helping end the pandemic by securing vaccination. Our roster goal remains to achieve 100 percent full vaccination."
That means at least four players remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko told The Dispatch earlier this season that about 85% of players had been fully vaccinated.
Comparatively, all 67 players invited to the Columbus Blue Jackets preseason camp had been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Crew have had four total COVID-19 cases since early September among vaccinated and unvaccinated players. Goalkeeper Eloy Room and center back and captain Jonathan Mensah miss time this season due to a required quarantine after returning from playing for their national teams outside the U.S.
MLS health and safety protocol requires unvaccinated players to quarantine after returning from international travel. Players who are vaccinated do not have to quarantine.
The Dispatch understands that the Crew were waiting to see if Mensah still had to quarantine and miss this weekend's game against Inter Miami after having received two doses of a vaccine but not yet two weeks removed from getting the second dose, which is when the Centers for Disease Control considers an individual to be fully vaccinated.
Compared to other leagues, MLS has not publicly stated the league's vaccination rate.
Back in July after CF Montreal traded Erik Hurtado to the Crew because of Hurtado's unwillingness at the time to get the vaccine, the MLS Players Association told ESPN's Jeff Carlisle that the total player vaccination rate was nearing 95%.
The Crew does not disclose individual vaccination status, citing HIPAA, a federal law that prohibits disclosing an individuals medical records without their consent.
Crew players who have gone on international duty and have returned without having to quarantine — indicating they're fully vaccinated — are Lucas Zelarayan, Gyasi Zardes, Luis Diaz, Derrick Etienne Jr., and Liam Fraser.
Midseason signing Steven Moreira also did not have to quarantine when he arrived in the U.S.
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