BUFFALO, N.Y. — Fans of Buffalo’s pro sports teams will have to prepare for the upcoming seasons in the fall.
They won’t just have to get their jerseys and team colors ready. County leaders announced this week fans will also have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres games in person, area media outlets reported.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz made the announcement Tuesday while lamenting that vaccine appointments are going unfilled, The Buffalo News reported.
Poloncarz reminded Erie County residents that there are same-day and next-day county-run clinic appointments available. So few vaccinations were being distributed that workers were trying to have people come in off the streets to get a shot.
The county will use what is called the “Excelsior Pass” to show proof that they’ve been vaccinated to enter an arena or stadium, WKBW reported.
Poloncarz said the pass is an app that will show the vaccination records.
You can apply now to receive your "Excelsior Pass."
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) April 13, 2021
There is a app you can download right on your cell phone. This app will show your shot records, and that you have been full vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/0yhrvbVFT2
Poloncarz said all fans, even children, will be subject to the vaccination rule this fall, WKBW reported.
As of April, there was no vaccine for use for children under the age of 16, but there are trial programs ongoing, USA Today reported.
Poloncarz hopes the plan is in place for the Bills this summer when the preseason starts, WIVB reported.
Erie County is the owner of both Highmark Stadium, where the Bills play; and the KeyBank Center, where the Sabres play. It is believed that the county is one of the first to require a vaccination policy to attend games in person, WIVB reported.
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Cox Media Group
