Pele gets Covid-19 vaccine, hails 'unforgettable' day | Inquirer Sports

Pele gets Covid-19 vaccine, hails ‘unforgettable’ day

/ 04:53 PM March 03, 2021

Pele football

(FILES) In this file photo taken on April 02, 2019 Brazilian football legend Pele speaks during a meeting with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and France national football team forward Kylian Mbappe at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Brazilian football great Pele, 80, received a Covid-19 vaccine Tuesday, a moment he described as “unforgettable” while urging people not to let down their guard against the deadly virus.

“Today was an unforgettable day. I received the vaccine!” the man considered one of the greatest footballers of all time wrote on his Instagram account.

Article continues after this advertisement

The message included a photo of Pele wearing a mask and giving a thumbs-up while he received his shot.

FEATURED STORIES
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pelé (@pele)

“The pandemic is not over. We must remain disciplined to save lives because many people have not yet been vaccinated,” he wrote, and advocated mask-wearing, social distancing and hand-washing as virus protection.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This (the pandemic) will pass if we think of each other and help each other,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Pele’s press team did not respond to questions about which vaccine he received, and whether it was the first or second dose.

Article continues after this advertisement

The only player to win three World Cups — in Sweden in 1958, Chile in 1962 and Mexico in 1970 — Pele has self-isolated at his house in Sao Paulo state since the start of the health crisis which has left more than 255,000 people dead in Brazil, where vaccination has been slow to start.

As an octogenarian, Pele forms part of the population considered at high risk of coronavirus complications.

His health has deteriorated in recent years, and in limited recent public appearances, he has been seen in a wheelchair or supported by a walker.

RELATED STORIES

Pele congratulates Messi for equaling goal record 

Pele mourns Maradona: ‘I hope we’ll play together in the sky

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: Coronavirus Pandemic, COVID-19, Pele

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.