Smart pushing for more vaccinations as Georgia tops SEC threshold
Georgia has already topped the 85% threshold for vaccines set by the SEC this year, but that doesn't mean head coach Kirby Smart will stop encouraging his players and coaching staff to get vaccinated.
"It's not about a number," Smart said Tuesday during the second day of SEC media days, according to ESPN's Harry Lyles Jr. "It's not about a threshold. I think everybody wants to write who's over and who's under.
"What it's really about is being able to save our season. Being able to keep our players safe. We want to keep our players safe. We want to keep our coaches and staff safe. We want to keep our family members safe, and that comes through vaccinations."
"Our drive is to get to 100% and we're not there yet," he added, according to Marc Weiszer of Athens Banner-Herald.
The SEC introduced an 85% vaccination threshold this season, allowing teams to avoid regular COVID-19 testing and wearing masks inside school facilities after reaching that mark.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday six of the conference's 14 teams have surpassed an 80% vaccination rate ahead of training camp.