Edmonton Elks general manager Brock Sunderland has not been inoculated against the coronavirus for a reason.
TSN reporter Farhan Lalji has the details: Given what the Elks have been through on the COVID front, interesting to note that GM Brock Sunderland has not been vaccinated. He’s received a medical exemption. Multiple doctors have advised him against receiving the vaccine. He is not an anti-vaxxer.
15 minutes following the report from Lalji, the team issued a statement regarding Sunderland’s vaccination status.
The Edmonton Elks have an organizational policy that requires all business and football operations staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Like other organizations, however, exemptions can be granted when they are deemed warranted by a doctor.
Following consultation with multiple physicians, Brock Sunderland was issued a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Every member of the club remains committed to following public health best practices, and adhering to the CFL’s strict protocols for all Tier 1 personnel. Neither the club nor Sunderland will have further comment regarding the matter at this time.
The Elks have had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the league and the highest total of positive cases so far this year. Edmonton’s football leaders don’t believe there is any divide in the locker room regarding the team’s outbreak or its vaccination rate.
Edmonton released starting Canadian offensive lineman Jacob Ruby on August, 31 which was reportedly due to him misrepresenting his vaccination status to the team.
To date, Edmonton has had 17 players enter COVID protocol since the start of the 2021 CFL season. The majority of those came from an outbreak that caused the team’s Week 4 game against the Toronto Argonauts to be moved to Tuesday, November 16.
Halfway through the season, the Elks are 2-5 — last place in the West Division.
