Time to answer the eternal question: who should get vaccinated first – Chris Wood or your gran?
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has suggested that Premier League footballers receive the coronavirus vaccine early, so that money currently being used to carry out mandatory weekly tests can be reinvested in the NHS.
The gravel-voiced manager has stated his view that it would be easier to give top flight players early access to the vaccine, rather than persist with the current process of twice-weekly testing.
The latest round of testing for Premier League clubs resulted in 40 positive tests, the highest number since the current level of testing was implemented.
“It’s my view, I think vaccination is the way forward throughout football,” Dyche said.
“The amount of money being spent on testing in the Premier League, if that was channelled back into the NHS and into the vaccination system, surely that’s a better place to be than continually testing footballers.
“I appreciate some people will be surprised by that comment and people will say: ‘Why should footballers get vaccinations?’ But, if the testing diminishes, that money could be used for a much better cause.
“Football then also remains a competitive industry rather than what might end up as a skewed industry because of players missing from games. It’s a common-sense view.
“Let me make it clear, there are people way in front of footballers [as a priority to be vaccinated]. I’m not remotely suggesting that should be put in front of the welfare of people who are very vulnerable.
“What I’m saying is: Is there a timeline where they can fast-track to that period? Logically, it would be better putting the funding that is put into testing into the system to encourage more vaccinations.
“That money could be used more wisely, I would suggest, to get it out there quicker to the vulnerable and beyond.”
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