Vikings' Peterson: Unvaccinated players are 'living in a different world'

Patrick Peterson is attempting to spread the word to his Minnesota Vikings teammates that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is beneficial on and off the field.

On his "All Things Covered" podcast, the veteran cornerback noted that NFL players who don't receive the vaccine will be impacting their teams in the long run.

"Why not put yourself in the best position possible to win a championship?" Peterson said, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith.

"If you're not vaccinated, you're just living in a different world. Why put yourself at risk of going through that again?" he added.

The NFL and NFLPA agreed Wednesday to updated COVID-19 protocols for 2021 training camps and the preseason. Under the new guidelines, those who haven't received both doses must undergo testing on a daily basis, wear face coverings regularly, quarantine if necessary, and adhere to physical-distancing protocols.

Vaccinated players will no longer be tested daily, and they won't be forced to quarantine following exposure to the virus.

While a large number of players and coaches have already received both doses, some have noted their skepticism and want to complete more research before making a final decision.

Peterson said he hasn't experienced side effects from the vaccine, noting the process was "perfectly fine."

Vaccination isn't mandatory, but the league is expected to ease restrictions on gatherings and practices for teams with at least 85% of players fully vaccinated.

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