San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, going public with that announcement Thursday to encourage others to receive the shot when they have the opportunity.
Popovich released the news on his 72nd birthday. He made the announcement through the NBA in the form of a video, just as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 73, the league's all-time scoring leader, did last week. Both are well within the age guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surrounding vaccine eligibility.
"Sciencewise, it's a no-brainer. It's the right thing to do so we can all get on track again,'' Popovich said in the video.
The video also shows Popovich receiving the vaccine. "I didn't feel it,'' he told the health care worker who gave him the shot.
CDC guidelines suggest that priority for receiving the vaccine should go to health care personnel, those living in long-term care facilities, front-line essential workers, those over the age of 65 and people "with underlying medical conditions'' that increase their vulnerability to COVID-19.