Dave Roberts says Dodgers are ‘darn close’ to 85% vaccination goal

Prior to the start of the season, Major League Baseball said that if a team were to have 85 percent of their players and primary field staff vaccinated, a lot of protocols would be dropped. Mask use would be dropped from dugouts and bullpens, and electronic tracing devices would be eliminated as well.

While speaking with reporters ahead of Monday’s game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the Dodgers are either at that 85 percent number or they’re getting close to it.

“If we’re not, I know we’re darn close,” he said. “I don’t know exactly. I don’t know the number. I don’t know the status of where our guys are at whether it’s the first or second shot, I just don’t know.”

According to MLB’s Tier 1 restrictions that was put in place last summer, this 85 percent number includes players, managers, coaches, bullpen catchers, team physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and strength and conditioning coaches.

Once the threshold is reached, players and staff who are fully vaccinated would be able to eat and drink on flights. They would be able to gather in indoor spaces such as hotels without masks or social distancing as long as non-vaccinated people aren’t present, and they would be able to carpool or use Uber or Lyft.

Something to note is that it is two weeks following the second shot to be considered fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated players or staff who have close contact with someone with COVID-19 would not have to quarantine.