CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from Feb. 12, 2021.
After receiving the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine while in Arizona for Spring Training, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said he didn't experience any side effects.
At least not any that he was aware of.
"Hard to tell," Francona said on Wednesday. "I feel so s----y every day that I don't really know."
As for the rest of Cleveland's Tier 1 members -- defined as players, coaches, trainers and some front-office members and other members of the team's traveling party -- Francona said that half of the group was able to receive the vaccine during the Indians' off day on Tuesday. Half of the team's Tier 2 members -- other "essential" employees -- also received the vaccine on Tuesday, with the other halves of both tiers able to receive the vaccine during Thursday's off day.
According to Francona, the process was run by the Cleveland Clinic, which distributed the vaccine to the members of the organization who wanted it at Progressive Field on Tuesday.
"We're so fortunate here," Francona said. "Not only do we get probably the world's best care, but the cooperation. They came over to the ballpark. They're really solid people."
As for how many members of the Indians organization have already received the vaccine or plan to receive it, that remains unclear. But Francona said he is hopeful that the team's Tier 1 members will reach the 85 percent threshold, which will allow it to relax its COVID-19 protocols, per MLB's rules.
"The closer we get to normalcy, not just in baseball but in life, the better. I know that Major League Baseball has made it clear that if you get to a certain amount of vaccines, there are some restrictions that are relaxed on the planes, in the clubhouse, on the field," he said. "So hopefully as an organization, we'll get to that point and that will make some of what we do, the day-to-day stuff a lot easier and a lot more fun. So I hope we get there.
"[Receiving the vaccine is] everybody's personal choice. You can't make somebody do that, that wouldn't be right. Like I said, I hope we get to a certain amount though where we are able as a team to relax some of the restrictions. That would be really helpful."