Vaccinated healthcare workers from U.S. hospitals and health systems will get to experience the Super Bowl in person this year.
The announcement — which followed discussions with public health officials — came Jan. 22 from National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Overall, about 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers will receive free tickets to Super Bowl LV as guests of the NFL in honor of their service during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mr. Goodell.
The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Tampa, Fla. Workers who attend will have received both vaccine doses, and most will come from hospitals and health systems in the Tampa and central Florida area, Mr. Goodell said. NFL clubs nationwide will select vaccinated healthcare workers from their communities to go to the festivities.
In the Chicago area, four vaccinated healthcare workers were selected to attend, according to a news release. The workers are from Advocate Aurora Health, which has dual headquarters in Downers Grove, Ill., and Milwaukee. They include a home care nurse, as well as hospitalists and a worker in facilities operations.
Jill Chadwick, spokesperson with the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kan., said the health system received 18 Super Bowl tickets for vaccinated healthcare workers, according to news station KMBC. As of Jan. 25, it had not been determined who would be attending.