George Reed featured in Saskatchewan’s Stick It To COVID campaign
George Reed #GeorgeReed
Having been vaccinated, George Reed is encouraging Rider Nation to follow his lead.
The 81-year-old Saskatchewan Roughriders legend is featured in the latest video for the Stick It To COVID campaign, urging residents of this province to get vaccinated. He received the Pfizer vaccine last week.
“I think we’re getting on the offensive when dealing with COVID,” Reed said Thursday, the day the latest ad was released. “We have to go step by step and start moving. Some people are willing to get it done, while others are very scared about it. We just have to keep encouraging them.”
The Stick It To COVID campaign started March 29 and features real Saskatchewan folks listing their reasons for being vaccinated. They also encourage those who have yet to be vaccinated to do so as quickly as possible.
Reed said he got his jab after receiving a call from the Saskatchewan Health Authority that his name had come up.
“It went really well,” Reed said. “It was bang-bang and I was out. My left shoulder was a little sore from the shot, but I felt good after.”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is also encouraging Saskatchewan residents to stay home, avoid travel, limit their bubbles and put off any Easter weekend gatherings until next year.
Reed, who rushed for 16,116 yards over 13 seasons with the Riders, feels that is sage advic e.
“You look what happened in the United States with spring break,” he said. “They were like flies on top of one another and it’s not going to get any better that way.”
Roughriders fans haven’t been to a game at Mosaic Stadium since Nov. 17, 2019, when the Green and White was beaten 20-13 by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division final. The 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Reed is optimistic that there will be a season in 2021. However, he feels it may not start on time and or include 18 games per team.
“I don’t think they can go another year without having a season,” he said. “A lot of things have to happen, including the teams coming together as partners and not just individual clubs. That’s what they have to start doing.”
Reed feels vaccines are a key to the CFL returning in 2021 with fans in the stands.
“We’re a lot different than the United States in that we have to have people go to the games,” he said. “It’s not much of a game if we don’t have any way to pay for things. Maybe half of the revenue comes from TV and the rest is from the gate.”
Reed is featured in the video saying he misses the noise that Riders fans bring to Mosaic Stadium. He also encourages fans get their shots in preparation for an upcoming season.
“We need football,” he said. “Football is good for the whole country because it pulls us together and keeps us going.”
mmccormick@postmedia.com
twitter.com/murraylp
The news seems to be flying at us faster all the time. From COVID-19 updates to politics and crime and everything in between, it can be hard to keep up. With that in mind, the Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox to help make sure you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.