Vaccinations are currently available to anyone aged 64 or over, meaning members of Nuno’s backroom staff have had their first dose, and the head coach described them was “feeling great”, as he awaits his own opportunity to step forward.
The vaccination roll out will continue throughout spring, making more Wolves supporters eligible each week, and creeping the club closer to welcoming crowds back inside Molineux.
Anyone with long-term conditions will be eligible for the vaccine before others in their age group, with those aged between 50 and 64 the next target, and more details are available here: gov.uk/coronavirus.
On the vaccine, Nuno said: “I truly believe one of the key factors for us to go back to normal as fast as possible is as many people as possible getting the vaccine. We have members of staff who’ve already had the vaccine and they are feeling great, so things will improve. If we want to go back to normal, and we are desperate to, the more people who get the vaccine, the better.
“I say to everybody, the vaccine is a key step for easy restrictions, it’s a key step for us to go back. With all the respects, with all the individuals’ own believes, with all their own doubts, everybody, everybody. I’m BAME and I wish that I had the vaccine.”
During this time, The City of Wolverhampton Council have offered assistance to the local community, booking appointments and making contact with those eligible who are yet to take up the invitation.
For Nuno, who at 47 is yet to receive his invitation, he’s looking at his Wolves colleagues to gauge the impact of the vaccine but insists caution must remain high at all times.
“I don’t have any kinds of doubts about it. It’s safe, it’s approved, it’s a key factor for us to go back to as normal as possible, and I can see by individuals here. I see Ron [Picken, kit man], he’s much happier, he feels safer, and only by seeing him every day, I know it’s OK. But we cannot relax, because if you had the virus before, you still have to take the vaccine.
“As a society, I see only benefits. I wish there were available vaccines back in Portugal, for example. We are facing a situation that we don’t have enough vaccines, but here [in the UK] we have vaccines and people don’t believe in them, and there are so many other countries all over the world, just think of Africa, the lack of vaccines there.
“I’m wishing that everybody all over the world has it so we can move and travel and go back to see our families. Why do people have doubts on that?”
As of last week, over 77,000 Covid-19 vaccinations had been completed in Wolverhampton, with thousands more people being invited every day, and now nine out of 10 people aged 65 and over have now had their first dose.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for health and public wellbeing, said: “We are grateful for Nuno’s support in encouraging everyone in the city to have their vaccination. As the best way out of the pandemic, the sooner we are all vaccinated the sooner we can return to a more normal way of life, and the sooner fans can enjoy their football back in at Molineux or down the local pub.
“The vaccine is safe and approved and is the best protection from serious illness caused by coronavirus. It is also proving effective at reducing transmission of the virus.
“Getting vaccinated is easy, and if you have any worries or concerns about the vaccines you can talk them through when it is your turn, or ask trusted sources such as your GP, or the NHS and council websites for information.”
For more information on the vaccine, including frequently asked questions, visit wolverhampton.gov.uk/vaccine.
The latest information and guidance around Covid-19 is available at gov.uk/coronavirus and wolverhampton.gov.uk/coronavirus.
