We must tell fans to get jab

Richarlison keen to serve as role model

EVERTON forward Richarlison says it is important for Premier League footballers to set an example for fans by encouraging them to get fully vaccinated against Covid.

Richarlison, a rare public advocate of the jab among footballers, explained his proactive position on getting the jab just as the top flight reported dramatically increased vaccine uptake among its players.

Sixty eight per cent of Premier League players are said to be fully immunised following weeks of reports in The Mail on Sunday highlighting vaccine hesitancy among squads. Eighty one per cent have received at least one inoculation after a concerted campaign by the Government and clubs to persuade players of the jab’s importance and explode myths about its risk.

Richarlison, who scored against his former club Watford yesterday, said he contributed to a public health campaign in Brazil to help his native country’s wider battle against Covid.

‘It’s important, isn’t it? Particularly now,’ he said in quotes published in Everton’s match-day programme yesterday.

‘We were delighted with the return of fans to the stadiums. We always want to do good.

‘In Brazil, a lot of people were missing their second dose. It was important to share the photo [of him getting jabbed] to encourage people to have the vaccine, so the world can get back to normal. I hope I’ve encouraged lots of people to go to get their second dose.’

Sportsmail revealed last month that only a third of all top-flight players had been double jabbed. At the start of this month, this newspaper also disclosed that a quarter of players in the Football League were not planning to get immunised.

Club officials have been concerned that senior players were deterring team-mates from getting the jab by sharing conspiracy theories that claimed it led to infertility.

However, the Premier League said in a statement last week: ‘We can confirm that 81 per cent of players have received at least one Covid-19 vaccination dose with 68 per cent now fully vaccinated.’