Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow has urged his teammates to get vaccinated for Covid-19, a new strain of the virus that causes the common cold.
Karl Darlow, who is the Newcastle goalkeeper, has urged his teammates to get vaccinated for Covid-19. The vaccine aims to prevent a virus that can cause serious illness and death.
Karl Darlow, goalkeeper for Newcastle United, speaks with The Sports Desk podcast about his experience with Covid-19.
After recovering from a severe case of Covid-19, Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow has encouraged players to “go and get the jab.”
After contracting the virus three days before his first vaccination in July, the goalie spent three days on a hospital drip and was “very concerned.”
Darlow, who had just recently regained full health after suffering “terrible tiredness” and losing five kg, told the press that his experience had persuaded “a few” of his teammates to be immunised.
However, Darlow said on The Sports Desk podcast that “four or five” additional Newcastle players are still unvaccinated, “hopefully for legitimate reasons.”
Darlow’s warning comes as the Premier League plans to send clubsexternal-link a video next week in which the government’s deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, encourages players to disregard vaccination myths and disinformation.
There is increasing worry over the number of people who refuse to be immunised, with almost a third of the English Football League remaining unvaccinated.
‘My family was terrified.’
Darlow, 30, thinks he contracted the virus after witnessing the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, which took place only four days before his first vaccine.
His symptoms increased a few days after he tested positive.
“I ended up driving myself into the hospital about 11 or 12 o’clock at night simply to be hydrated because my glands were so swollen that I couldn’t swallow,” he said.
“I was really concerned. I didn’t want it to impede my breathing when it was at its worst. I knew that if I could go in and get on a drip and get the food and water into my body, I’d be OK, but there’s always the fear in the back of your mind that if it gets into your breathing, you’re in big danger.
“It’s clear that your family is in a panic.”
‘I was exhausted for weeks.’
Darlow is now completely healed and in position to play Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo this weekend at Old Trafford, but he said he had been suffering from “terrible tiredness for weeks.”
“Even after I was diagnosed, it was probably two or three weeks before I went home and slept for two, three hours in the day and then 9-10 hours at night.”
“I believe I experienced almost every symptom. It wasn’t pleasant, what with the heat and cold, the diarrhoea, and everything else. I lost approximately five kilograms as a result of not being able to eat or drink for three or four days. Lucy, my companion, probably couldn’t believe how pale I looked in the face and how much weight I’d dropped.”
Darlow says he now regrets not getting vaccinated sooner, and that his experience has persuaded “a few” of his St James’ Park teammates to do so.
“I believe that seeing how I was able to persuade them to go ahead and finish it, I was able to persuade them to do so.” So it’s difficult because everyone who isn’t having it has their own reasons, and it may be difficult to persuade or have a long discussion with your teammates about being vaccinated if they have a valid reason, and you can’t force it on them.
“Go and get the jab,” Darlow advised unvaccinated players who may believe they are too young and healthy to be concerned about Covid.
“I simply figured if I did get it, it wouldn’t have that much of an impact on me,” he said.
“I believe a lot of people believe that [but] there are many instances today involving younger individuals, and regrettably, some people are not healing and others are taking a long time to recover.”
“You don’t want to jeopardize your health by going through it.”
‘Four or five guys have yet to get a jab.’
Despite the fact that most clubs have been hesitant to disclose their players’ vaccination status, Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce is one of many football managers who has admitted that some of his players have refused to take the vaccine. Professor Van-Tam has previously visited with Premier League captains to clarify misconceptions about vaccination to promote uptake.
Athletes in a variety of sports have voiced worry that vaccine side effects would impair their performance, but Darlow claimed it was not a concern shared by his teammates.
“I don’t believe that’s the reason we still have four or five guys who haven’t received [the jab].” It will, ideally, be for legitimate reasons.
“What we’ve got here is individuals have their own reasons,” he added, citing health concerns, religious concerns, and other factors.
If the government pushes forward with proposals to make vaccination passports obligatory for fans attending sporting events in England with audiences of more than 20,000 people, the pressure on athletes to get immunised may grow.
From October 1, the Scottish government will implement such a program. Athletes who are not vaccinated may find it more difficult to go overseas for competitions, particularly if instances increase this winter.
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Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow has urged his teammates to get vaccinated for Covid-19. The virus is a new strain of the flu that can be fatal. Reference: martin dubravka.
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