SWANSEA MANAGER Russell Martin feels that getting the Covid-19 vaccination should be a freedom of choice". He also insisted that he would not tell any of his players to have a Covid-19 vaccination.
Premier League clubs have had to grapple with Omicron variants over the last few weeks. Six of the ten Premier League games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed, bringing the total to 13 over the last few weeks.
The debate has rumbled on over how many players are still to take up their vaccinations. Statistics from the Premier League claimed that 68% of its players were fully jabbed against Covid-19. This figure isn't as high as other leagues across Europe.
25% of EFL players don’t intend to get the vaccine. At that end of the game that is staggering. Many players at that level live off one-year deals. If there’s no football who will pay them next year ? pic.twitter.com/yRr9iLUsaU
— Nigel Adderley (@nadderley) December 16, 2021
It was also reported that a quarter of players in the EFL have no intention of getting the vaccine.
Swansea have two players isolating after returning positive tests, despite both having one vaccine. The club sit 12th in the Championship.
Martin believes freedom of choice should exist when deciding to take the jab.
"I am not anti-vaccine by the way, not at all," he said. "I am pro-choice, as I have before.
"We have a huge number of players that have had both jabs. A couple have already had their boosters. Most of the staff are vaccinated and have had boosters. Some haven't, same with some of the players.
"It's all about freedom of choice, which is slowly being vilified or taken away.
"We had two players isolating recently who didn't have it, their kids had it. We just have to accept that's the situation. I certainly don't change my opinion on someone whether they've had a vaccine or not."
Russell Martin remains adamant he will not tell any Swansea City player to have a Covid-19 vaccination and says it would be wrong to remove "freedom of choice" ⤵️
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) December 22, 2021
He added: "If we have to miss them because of a choice they have made with their own body, that's the risk they face of not being in the team, being out of the team and losing their place," he said.
"Obviously it's disappointing if we have to lose someone but it all goes back to no-one being in control of what they want to put in their body. That's my view on it whether you agree or disagree.
"I don't think it's ever happened before in my lifetime, where we are told what we have to do, so they all have a choice."
