Premier League clubs are lagging behind the world’s major sports in persuading its star players to get the Covid-19 jab.
A Mail on Sunday survey has found that almost all other top leagues have a much higher vaccine take-up rate than English football.
Even tennis – which has had a similar issue with vaccine hesitancy – is threatening to outstrip English football, with the take-up rate on the ATP Tour having improved by around 20 per cent over the past six weeks.
They credit star players and coaches coming out as strong vocal advocates for vaccination as a key factor in their high number, such as Superbowl-winning coach Bruce Arians.
‘That has had a huge impact in dressing rooms,’ NFL chief medical officer Dr Allen Sills told The Mail on Sunday. ‘Young and less experienced players look up to them and want to be as successful in the same way. It speaks to have people who have the trust of the players. That has been incredibly important.’
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