Twins' Andrelton Simmons tests positive for COVID-19 after declining vaccine offered to team
Minnesota Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Wednesday.
Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told reporters that Simmons' was experiencing "very mild" symptoms and resting at home.
Simmons has expressed skepticism in COVID-19 vaccines and declined to take one last week when it was offered to the team. Simmons tweeted in March that he would not take a COVID-19 vaccine or advocate for vaccines.
I’ve received some questions and some requests regarding the vaccine. And for personal reasons and past experience I will not be taking it or advocating for it. I hope I don’t have to explain myself. And hope you all make the best decision for you and your family’s health
— Andrelton Simmons (@Andrelton) March 26, 2021
He confirmed on Sunday that he didn't take the vaccine when it was offered and said that he didn't know if he would take one in the future, according to the Associated Press. The Twins, meanwhile, promoted the team's vaccine campaign on social media.
#MNTwins players & staff received their COVID-19 vaccine thanks to Cub Pharmacies. pic.twitter.com/8SejlILbus
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 9, 2021
At the time, Falvey addressed skepticism among players and offered the team as a resource for information on vaccines.
“If you have very specific reasons as to why you don’t want to get it, that’s a total individual choice," Falvey said last week, per the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. "But if you’re someone who’s just hesitant because you lack a little bit of information about it, then I think it’s our responsibility to some degree to help them get that information and ultimately make whatever informed decision they’re going to make going forward.
The Twins conducted contact tracing after Simmons' positive test and did not place any other players or staff members in quarantine.
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