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This post may refer to COVID-19

This post may refer to COVID-19

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Joshua Kimmich: German footballer's vaccine hesitancy dismays experts
www.bbc.com

Joshua Kimmich: German footballer's vaccine hesitancy dismays experts

Joshua Kimmich denied he was an "anti-vaxxer" after expressing unease about long-term side effects.

Sports

He's one of Germany's superstar football players, a role model who's supported charities that help people struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

But in recent days, Joshua Kimmich's comments about the safety of Covid-19 vaccinations have threatened to take the shine off his image.

Over the weekend, the Bayern Munich midfielder, 26, confirmed reports he had not yet had a vaccine over concerns about long-term studies.

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"I am of course aware of my responsibility," Kimmich told broadcaster Sky Sport after a match on Saturday.

"I follow all hygiene measures and get tested every two to three days. Everyone should make the decision for themselves."

Still, Kimmich insisted he was not a "Covid denier or an anti-vaxxer".

"There is a very good chance that I will still get vaccinated," he said. "It's simply that I still have some concerns."

Those concerns have been addressed by prominent German health experts and scientists who have criticised Kimmich for not setting a good example and misunderstanding how vaccines work.

They say decades of research shows that long-term health problems are highly unlikely after receiving a vaccination of any kind. Given this, one leading medical ethicist suggested Kimmich had been the victim of Covid disinformation online.