Thirty-five people from three different states became vaccinated against COVID-19 at Garth Brooks’ stadium show in Kansas City over the weekend.
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Officials of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City held a free vaccine clinic outside Brooks’ show on Saturday in an effort to encourage unvaccinated concertgoers to get their shot. Those who received the vaccine were entered into a raffle for a free ticket upgrade.
Although not organized by Garth’s camp, the Country legend was in strong support of the idea, while still respecting fans who decided the vaccine was not for them.
“Everybody is saying it was my idea, that’s very sweet of them, it wasn’t,” Garth said during a press conference before his show last week when asked about the clinic. “These guys [GEHA Field officials] decided since it’s a mass gathering, let’s put a vaccination tent out there. I love that!”
“It’s still your choice,” he said. “Me? I’m vaccinated. This tour? Fully vaccinated… My thing is, I’m vaccinated, I encourage you to get vaccinated, but until it’s a law, it’s a choice.”
Four people who made their own choice to get vaccinated at the show on Saturday were Blue Springs, MO resident, Laura Campbell, Adam Johnson of Osage City, KS as well as Nick Helm and Mike Jenkins of St. Joseph MO.
“I’ve been trying to get scheduled for the vaccination, so the fact that they’re doing it at the concert, it’s great,” Campbell told KCUR. “With the whole COVID rampant, and the Delta variant going on, it was just kind of time to do it.”
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Johnson, who has had trouble finding vaccine distribution in his small town added, “I think it’s a brilliant idea. The health department was smart because people will get it if you put it in their face.”
While Campbell and Johnson had already planned to get the vaccine, concert attendees like Helm and Jenkins were more likely swayed by the convenience of the clinic at the show and doing their part for the community.
“I think maybe I just did it to show them [others] that it’s not a bad thing,” Helm said. “It’s going to help everybody out. You know, I do my part, you do your part and eventually, hopefully, we can get rid of this whole thing.”
“At first, I was like, I’m not gonna get that vaccine, I’m not gonna do it,” Jenkins shared. “But down the road, it’s like okay, it makes life easier. I think that even if you get a low count of people coming in, you have enough people seeing that we’re out there and I think that’s awesome.”
While some may not believe 35 is a strong number, the healthcare workers staffing the event were very encouraged and look forward to continuing to make the vaccine a convenience to Kansas City-area residents.
“It feels like a lot more people are coming to get vaccinated,” said health care worker Colleen Long. “People are even walking all the way around Arrowhead Stadium just to come in here. I’m shocked.”
The Kansas City Health Department says it plans to continue its efforts to get residents vaccinated with upcoming vaccination clinics at events including Planet Comicon, taking place August 20-22.
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