EPL COVID Vaccination Rates Remain a Mystery

Several major sports leagues have been pushing their players, staff, and personnel to get the COVID-19 vaccination.  Certain leagues, such as the NFL and NBA have even implemented regulations and consequence for those not vaccinated. While some leagues are making strides, others are falling short. The Premier League, England’s top football flight, is left a mystery.

A majority of the Premier League clubs have declined to state the percentage of staff and players who are vaccinated, leaving the true vaccinations rates to be unknown and several rumors stating the levels are astoundingly low.

Newcastle United player receiving the vaccine (Premierleague.com).

The Premier league has been encouraging its players to get the vaccine, however there is hesitancy within the league. Due to the rise in social media popularity, players have taken to different conspiracy theories and extreme rational, leading their hesitancy towards the vaccination encouragement.  

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been a leading voice in encouraging his players be vaccinated (mirror.co.uk).

While the league does release the results of positive cases, they have declined to release any information in regard to the vaccination rates.  According to the BBC, an email sent out in September 2021 stated, “Only seven clubs' squads are more than 50% fully vaccinated, so we have a way to go.” The statement continues to read, “We are considering if and how best we can 'reward' those squads/players who are most Covid-compliant and who have opted to be vaccinated."  We have seen incentives, or more so consequences, in leagues such as the NBA. Nonvaccinated players will not be able to eat in the same room as their vaccinated teammates, and will additionally have lockers that are further away from their teammates.