Fikayo Tomori is yet to have a single conversation with a team-mate about the need to get vaccinated, with the former Chelsea defender saying that he does not feel comfortable publicly declaring his status as focus on the percentage of players across the game refusing to get jabbed intensifies.
The 23-year-old, who is back in the England squad for the first time since 2019, believes it is a personal choice that should be kept private. While he acknowledges that elite players have the potential to influence others in protecting themselves from the spread of coronavirus, he does not feel comfortable coming down on either side of the argument.
When England's players reported for duty at St George's Park on Tuesday they had a meeting with the FA's medical staff, who reminded them of the importance of social distancing and hand-washing, but the Milan defender indicated the importance of getting the vaccine was not up for discussion.
That is despite reports that at least five members of Gareth Southgate's squad are yet to be inoculated.
"Personally I haven't had any conversations about the vaccinations or anything like that," Tomori said. "Just because it's a personal thing. I'm not going to ask if you're going to take the vaccine or not. It's not something that we're really talking about.
"The thing everyone is talking about is, 'Oh if I go here do you have to do this and that?' Those are the questions going around and what it's like in Italy and when you come back to England what do you have to do. In terms of that those are the conversations we've had but in terms of the vaccine and stuff like that nothing really."
Tomori was then asked if he was able to clarify whether he has been jabbed but did not answer.
"Personally for me it's a personal issue," he replied. "As I said, it varies from Italy to England. I want to keep it to myself, not to be in any way but for every personal individual it's their own prerogative to take it or not take it."
At the same time he can understand why there is so much interest in the status of players when supporters attending matches are being asked to provide proof of vaccination or take a lateral flow test to gain entry.
Tomori added: "We're public figures, in the public eye, so I definitely see why people are wondering or asking, 'If they're going to take it, I'm going to take it.
"If they're not going to take it, I'm not going to take it.' I don't think it's my place to put it out there if I've done this or done that to influence people. It's to leave people to their own if they want to do it or not."
