Team “pauses” due to COVID-19 cases could be cut in half and there is new guidance on what exactly defines a “fully vaccinated” player, after the NCAA on Thursday morning updated its recommendations for winter sports like men’s and women’s basketball.
By afternoon, the Mountain West Conference’s Board of Directors approved and adopted the updated guidelines, which apply immediately for the UNM Lobo men’s and women’s basketball teams.
While state and local health guidelines still trump all, the NCAA adopted several recent changes recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As they most affect Lobo basketball, a fully vaccinated person is defined as anyone:
- Within two months of having completed one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine;
- Within five months of having completed both doses of the Pfizer vaccine;
- Within six months of having completed both doses of the Moderna vaccine;
- Or anyone who has received a booster, if they were vaccinated beyond those time periods.