Sheffield Wednesday score a goal for the covid vaccination campaign

The club said: “Sheffield Wednesday is proud to support the NHS as they continue to work tirelessly during the covid pandemic. With a light at the end of the tunnel, we join the NHS in encouraging the public to attend their vaccination appointments. On behalf of everyone associated with the club, we thank the NHS for their incredible efforts throughout these difficult times.”

Sheffield Wednesday and the CCG will be sharing messages on social media, in support of the vaccination, along with a photo that features two of their players, Callum Paterson and Andre Green who are holding a banner urging people to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

The vaccination rollout has now been extended to include the under 40s. A recent national survey showed that whilst vaccine acceptance is increasing it’s still lower among younger age groups.

In Sheffield, 57 per cent of the adult population has already received their first dose, since the vaccination rollout started in late December last year, that’s over 280,000 people in Sheffield with covid vaccine protection. Those aged 40 to 49 are currently eligible, and already over 65 per cent of this group have had their first jab.

Alun Windle, Chief Nurse and COVID Vaccination Lead at NHS Sheffield CCG, said: “We are immensely grateful to Sheffield Wednesday for their support. They are role models for so many people in Sheffield and we thank them for taking the time to call upon others to have the vaccination. We know that as we move down the age groups we are likely to encounter greater hesitancy and we will be working hard to engage with their concerns and to reassure them that the vaccine is safe and offers protection against covid. Being young, fit and healthy does not make you immune from the virus and there is always the danger that if you are infected you could get long covid which brings greater long-term ill health problems than the minor side effects associated with the vaccine.”

Second doses are currently being given to eligible groups within 12 weeks of the first dose. Everyone who had their first dose at one of the GP led vaccination sites will be contacted directly by their GP practice to arrange an appointment.

Anyone aged 40-49 can book their first dose vaccine online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ or call 119.