Jude Bellingham ‘would advise’ footballers to get vaccinated against Covid-19

Bellingham has had both jabs and his booster

Jude Bellingham has said that he 'would advise' players to get vaccinated against coronavirus, revealing that he has had both Covid-19 vaccinations plus his booster. The England midfielder plies his trade for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, where 94% of players are double vaccinated. The 18-year-old insisted that players "have a platform in society" and that he "just wants everyone to be safe". Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I've had both jabs and the booster, just to be safe. I don't want to passing anything on to my family and be having to miss games myself.

"It's not for me to sit here and say everyone has to get vaccinated, it is personal choice... obviously I want everyone to be safe, so I'd probably advise them to get it."

The debate around vaccination rates in football comes after a number of Premier League an EFL matches had to be postponed due to a series of Covid-19 outbreaks at clubs throughout England. 

Premier League shareholders, managers and captains are met on Monday to discuss potential options moving forward, where it was decided that teams would continue to play, without cancelling a round of fixtures.

In Germany, vaccination rates among footballers are higher than those in England, with the most up to date Premier League figures - published in October - revealing that 81% of Premier League players had had at least one jab, while 68% had been given two doses.

It was also revealed that 25% of EFL players say they do not intend to get the jab.

Across the UK, 89% of over-12s have had their first vaccine dose, 82% have had their second and 44% have had a booster.

However, across England the vaccination rate for under-40s is below 75%.

Related links:

• PM confirms vaccine passports required for outdoor sporting venues with capacity of over 10,000
• Gareth Southgate says footballers “more open” to Covid vaccine conspiracy theories
• Neil Warnock urges young footballers to take Covid vaccine