England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam linked up with stars of the England men’s cricket team and with the ECB’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Nick Peirce for a Zoom discussion about the Covid-19 vaccine in a campaign promoting the UK’s vaccine roll-out programme and to tackle vaccine misinformation.
Built around a video Q&A session which was hosted by English cricket commentator, television and radio cricket broadcaster and a former England cricketer (who played in the 2005 and 2009 World Cups) Isa Guha.
England stars Mark Wood, Chris Jordan and Sam Curran virtually joined Van-Tam and Peirce for the question-and-answer session from India where they are competing in the current India v England Twenty20 series.
The resulting online film, released on 12 March, sees the players discuss the national vaccine rollout as players ask Van-Tam some of the key questions on many people’s lips:
- Are there any side effects?
- How does the vaccine protect people from coronavirus?
- Is it safe for all ethnic groups to take?
Members of our @englandcricket Men's team joined Professor Jonathan Van-Tam and the ECB’s Professor Nick Peirce in a discussion about the Covid-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/we1WhUsdTv
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) March 12, 2021
The initiative is part of the NHS’ wider response to a noted rise in vaccine misinformation and sees Van-Tam encourage groups hesitant about taking the vaccine to seek information from trusted sources and reiterate that the vaccine is the best way to protect people from coronavirus and to get cricket and the country back to normal from the summer onwards.
“It was a real pleasure to join some of England’s cricket players and answer their questions about the vaccine,” said Van-Tam. “Vaccination is the best way to protect people from Covid and will save thousands of lives. Over 22 million people have now had their first dose, if people follow the guidance then we all hope that people will be cheering our cricketers and other sport stars on from the stands again soon.”
Concluding their chat, all three players pledged that they would take the vaccine when called upon to do so.
Comment:
This health-focused cause campaign comes at a time when some of England’s most famous cricket grounds, including Lord’s, are being used as centres to support the NHS vaccine rollout.
The impact of the pandemic on the cricketing world has been felt for players and fans alike and explored in various cricket campaigns over the last 12 months including the Stephen Fry narrated ‘Together Through This Test’.
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