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Premier League and UK government urge footballers to get Covid-19 vaccine
The BBC reported that the Premier League and UK government have urged footballers to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
It said that half this weekend's top-flight games have been postponed because of outbreaks of the virus at clubs.
It mentioned that in the English Football League - where 25% of players say they do not intend to get the jab - 19 fixtures due to be played on Saturday have been postponed.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "Getting the jab is the socially responsible thing to do."
"The most important thing anyone - including footballers - can do to protect themselves, co-workers and loved ones is to get vaccinated and get a booster.
"I know the football authorities are also working with players to understand why some are vaccine hesitant."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes getting a vaccination should be mandatory "from a moral point of view" and revealed "99%" of his squad have had both jabs.
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He said: "It's a question of persuading," adding that "If I do something that helps the people around me then for me that's mandatory - but obviously some people see that differently.
"I'm 54 years old and I am really a big believer that you can convince people about the right things to do but I'm not sure in this specific case."
The BBC said that the most recent data from the Premier League, published in October, revealed that 81% of Premier League players had had at least one jab, while 68% had been given two doses.
It noted that across the UK, 89% of over-12s have had their first vaccine dose, 82% have had their second and 44% have had a booster.
Unvaccinated people who are deemed a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus must self-isolate for 10 days under the legal requirements set out by the UK government.
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Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has written to all member clubs asking them to "strongly encourage" players to get vaccinated.
He wrote: "We have collectively highlighted the importance of vaccination and it has never been more important."
"Please strongly encourage those who are not fully vaccinated to become so, and the many who are, to get their booster, which appears to be the only significant layer of protection against the Omicron variant."
Source: BBC
