England’s reported group of five ‘anti-vaxxers’ have been slammed by UK health secretary Sajid Javid, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also criticising those who refuse the jab.
According to The Sun, five members of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad have refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
It is a major blow to Southgate’s plans for winning next year’s World Cup, with host country Qatar set to refuse to admit any unvaccinated players for the tournament.
Conspiracy theories are thought to be the reason behind the five players’ refusal, but it looks set to cause a rift in the England camp, with that group being given exemptions from travel restrictions.
Southgate and club chiefs are attempting to battle against the misinformation that has led to the five refusing the vaccine.
And now health secretary Javid has slammed the group for their ‘disappointing’ stance against the jab.
The Conservative minister also called on them to change their position to set an example for supporters.
“They’ve made a conscious choice. It is disappointing. They are role models in society,” he said.
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“People look up to them and they should recognise the difference it can make in encouraging others.”
Javid’s anger came as Liverpool boss Klopp also blasted Premier League players who are refusing to get vaccinated.
The Sun claim that only seven top-flight sides have seen more than 50 per cent of their players take the jab.
And in a move to combat those low levels, the league is drawing up plans to set a deadline for stars to receive their vaccinations.
One club who have managed to avoid the controversy is Liverpool, with Klopp claiming 99 per cent of his squad have taken the jab.
The Reds boss also moved to compare a refusal to take the vaccine to drink driving, making ti clear he does not understand the thought process of the anti-vaxxers.
“We have 99 per cent vaccinated. I didn’t have to convince the players. I explained it for myself as like drink-driving,” Klopp said.
“We've all been in a situation where we had a beer or two and thought we could still drive but, because of the law, we are not allowed to drive anywhere so we don’t.
“But this law is not there for protecting me. It’s for protecting all the other people because I’m drunk and we accept that as a law.
“It is, for me, exactly the same. I don’t take the vaccination only to protect me, I take it to protect all the people around me.
“If I get Covid and suffer, my fault. If I get it and spread it to others, it’s also my fault.”
Southgate will have more than a year to change the five anti-vaxxers’ minds with the strong arguments from the likes of Klopp certain to aid his pleas.
