Unvaccinated Phillies’ Realmuto: ‘I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do’
Posted July 12, 2022 11:30 am.
Last Updated July 12, 2022 11:35 am.
The Philadelphia Phillies will be without J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson during a two-game series in Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on unvaccinated travellers.
Realmuto spoke at length about his decision not to vaccinate against COVID-19, saying he talked to a few doctors he knew who advised him against a shot. He also said forfeiting just over $260,000 USD was worth not being vaccinated.
“I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don’t put in my body for a little bit of money,” said Realmuto, a three-time All-Star. “It’s just not worth it.
J.T. Realmuto on not being able to join the Phillies in Toronto due to his vaccination status: pic.twitter.com/7suM66OYaB
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 12, 2022
“I’m a healthy, 31-year-old professional athlete,” Realmuto added.
“I didn’t feel the need to get it. I’ve had COVID a couple of times, super mild symptoms, back when it first came out. When it came time to decide whether I needed a vaccine or not, I talked to a couple of doctors that I knew and told them my story and really decided I didn’t think I needed it. I wasn’t going to take it just because I was told to, basically.”
Gibson revealed Saturday that he’s unvaccinated against COVID-19, citing medicine he takes for ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel condition.
“The medicines I take don’t let me build up antibodies,” Gibson said. “So I don’t have a vaccination.”
