AS MILLIONS of people wait in a virtual queue to book their booster jab on the NHS website, some are yet to have their first — including a number of athletes at the top level.

It is a personal choice, but with rumours of damaging conspiracy theories circulating around the dressing rooms at elite football clubs, you wonder how this might have been allowed to happen.

How could such misinformation be spread around training grounds where players work closely with doctors and physiotherapists day to day? Even the stadiums they play in almost weekly opened up to the public to help provide mass vaccination.

The uptake of the vaccine among professional footballers has been debated at length, with many opting not to discuss their status. Others have been more open, but why should this be the situation?

During the summer and whirlwind of the Euros, Gareth Southgate provided some eye-opening insight into the possible reasons that players have been hesitant — including conspiracy theories.

“At their age they are more open to some of these conspiracy theories because they are reading social media more,” he said.

“They are perhaps more vulnerable to those sort of views. From what I can see there is a bit of confusion around. And there are several different threads there to why they are choosing to be jabbed or not to speak publicly about it.”

In October, Health Secretary Sajid Javid expressed his disappointment as at least five members of the England squad reportedly refused to get vaccinated.

But you can’t discount the scepticism surrounding this government as a reason why people have avoided the jab — they have created a culture of distrust, particularly among the working class. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has meanwhile been open about his views on vaccine uptake, strongly encouraging people to think of others when making their decision.

“The whole vaccination thing is, for me, a massive question of solidarity, loyalty and togetherness,” he said.

“We have the chance to help not only ourselves but other people as well by getting vaccinated. There is only one answer, so you do it.”

It is difficult not to wonder whether a manager like Klopp, with such a strong command of the dressing room and a good connection with his players, correlates in some way to the number of those in the team taking up the vaccine.

“I think we can say we have 99 per cent vaccinated,” he said in October.

It is hard not to take what we consume on social media at face value. It’s not a surprise that it has created anxiety and discomfort surrounding the jab, but the clubs should be doing more to inform the individuals who are uncertain. 

If it is left unaddressed, false and potentially harmful information can spread as quickly as the virus itself.

For fans, the terraces are an important place to conduct a struggle of ideas. The players and managers involved in the game are role models for so many young people, and by endorsing the jab they can give an important boost to the campaign for fans to get vaccinated too.