Karl Darlow, Newcastle United goalkeeper, talks to The Sports Desk Podcast about his experience with Covid-19
After recovering from serious Covid-19 complications, Karl Darlow of Newcastle United has encouraged footballers to "go get the jab".
After catching the virus in July, the goalkeeper was hospitalized for three days and was "severely concerned" about his health.
Darlow, who had just recently returned to full fitness following "awful fatigue" after losing five kilos, told the BBC that his experience had inspired "a few" of his teammates to get immunized.
Darlow, however, stated that "four to five" Newcastle players are still unvaccinated.
Darlow's warning comes as Premier League prepares for sending a video to clubs next Wednesday in which Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the government's deputy chief physician officer, urges players not to believe the myths and misinformation surrounding the vaccine.
The number of people refusing to get immunized is growing, with nearly a third of the English Football League not being immunized.
"My family panicked"
Darlow, 30 years old, believes that he contracted the virus while attending the Euro 2020 final in Wembley. This was just four days before Darlow was scheduled to receive his first vaccine.
His condition worsened a few days after he tested positive.
He said that he drove himself to the hospital at 11 or 12 in the morning, to get water, as my glands were so swollen, and I couldn't swallow.
"I was very worried. I didn't want my breathing to be affected by it when it was at its worst. I knew I could get it in and put on a drip to get food and water. But I also knew that if it got into my breathing, it was going to be a serious problem.
"Obviously, your family is panicking."
"I suffered from terrible fatigue for several weeks."
Darlow is now 100% recovered and will be able to face Manchester United and Cristiano Rojo at Old Trafford on Saturday. However, he revealed that he had suffered from "awful fatigue" for several weeks.
"It took me two to three weeks, even though I had been diagnosed, before I went home and slept for about two, three hours in the afternoon, then I went to bed at night for 9-10 hours.
"I think I had almost every symptom. It was unpleasant. The hot and the cold, diarrhoea and everything in between. I lost about five kilos weight wise because I couldn't drink or eat for three to four days. Lucy, my partner couldn't believe how pale I looked and how much weight that I had lost.
Darlow said that he regrets not having organised a jab sooner and admitted that his experience had helped "a few" of his teammates at St James Park get vaccinated.
"I believe that seeing me was enough to convince them to get it done. It's difficult because everyone isn't having it for their own reasons. Sometimes it can be hard to convince your team-mates or have deep conversations with them about getting vaccinated.
Darlow stated that his message to footballers not vaccinated who feel they are too young or healthy to worry about Covid was "go and get your jab."
He said, "I thought it wouldn’t have that huge effect on me if it did catch me,"
"I believe there are many people who think that way, but there are many cases now that involve younger people. Unfortunately, people aren't recovering and it takes a significant amount of time for others to recover.
"You don’t want to have to go through it, and put your health at risk."
"Four or five players did not have jab"
Although most clubs are reluctant to disclose the vaccination status of their teams, Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is one of many football managers who has admitted that some of his players have not received the vaccine. Professor Van-Tam met with Premier League captains in order to dispel any myths about immunisation.
Darlow stated that athletes in many sports expressed concern that side effects of vaccinations could impact their performance. Darlow also said that this was not something that team-mates raised.
He said that people have different reasons for having health problems or being religious.
If the government continues to push for vaccine passports to be mandatory for all fans who attend sports events in England that draw more than 20,000 spectators, then players could feel even more pressure to get immunized.
This policy will be implemented by the Scottish government starting in October. Athletes who have not been vaccinated could find it difficult to travel abroad for fixtures, particularly if the number of cases increases this winter.
