Premier League release statement confirming 81 per cent of players have had Covid vaccine despite claims of poor uptake

MORE than two thirds of Prem stars ARE double-jabbed against Covid, according to League bosses.

Top flight players had been accused of ignoring vaccination requests with suggestions that fewer than half had taken part in the programme.

Many Prem stars had been rumoured to have not had the Covid vaccineBut a Premier League statement has confirmed this is not true

But new figures released by the Prem confirmed that more than four out of five players HAVE received at least one injection.

And just under seven in every 10 have received both shots of the vaccination.

In a statement, the top flight said: “The Premier League can confirm today that 81% of players have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose with 68% now fully vaccinated.

“Vaccination rates are collected by the Premier League on a weekly basis and the League continues to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff.

“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and player vaccination rates will be communicated at appropriate intervals in the future.”

The League has worked hard to persuade reluctant players to receive their injections, with quarantine restrictions in place for unvaxxed stars returning to the UK from red list countries.

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And it appears that the message is getting through, although there are no plans at this stage for a vaccine ‘mandate’ as has become the norm in US Sport.

In basketball, Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets has been suspended by his NBA franchise until he is vaccinated, as local state rules meaning he cannot play in New York.

And on the west coast, Washington State University American Football coach Nick Rolovich was sacked from his £2.2n per year job after his claim for ‘religious exemption’ from the state’s mandate was rejected.

Back in the UK Tammy Abraham was the first England player to confirm he has received the vaccine.

The Roma striker, 24, said: “I am vaccinated. That is a personal choice.

“I have contracted the virus before, I am in Italy — and for me it is the right thing to do.”

Chelsea star Mason Mount also disclosed he has been vaccinated against Covid.

However, SE exclusively revealed this month that five senior England internationals are refusing to have the jab.