Rummenigge hopes Kimmich will take covid-19 vaccine soon
Bayern Munich legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge thinks Joshua Kimmich will get the covid-19 jab soon but fully understands why he has been hesitant.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says he is hopeful that Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich will accept to be vaccinated against covid-19 in due course. Kimmich stated that he would prefer to wait for further research to be conducted before he gets the jab.
The 26-year-old and his Bayern team-mate Leon Goretzka started a We Kick Corona initiative last year to help those affected by covid-19. Former Bayern president Rummenigge says Kimmich should not be criticised for wanting to know if there may be any long-term effects of being vaccinated but believes he should take the jab and will in the near future.
"Kimmich is a role model"
Beim „Bayern-Insider“ enthüllt: Auf diesen Impfstoff hofft Joshua Kimmichhttps://t.co/Tqbe96pvXl
— BILD Sport (@BILD_Sport) October 24, 2021
Rummenigge told Bild Live: "First of all, I would like to say to Kimmich that he may be the Bundesliga player who has a role model function in many ways. I know him as a great person, as his We kick Corona initiative shows. Of course, it came as a surprise that he wasn't vaccinated. That has now led to a discussion. In February of this year, I suggested that it would be wise to vaccinate footballers early – as an example for everyone else. I've been horribly criticised. Now it has turned a little. What Joshua does is very responsible. He would like to wait for things like the long-term effects for himself and he is tested every other day. As a role model, it would still be better if he were vaccinated. I am convinced that he may be vaccinated soon. He is a totally responsible person and player. We can be very happy that he is part of these two teams in our country."
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Rummenigge does not believe players should be left with no choice. He added: "The compulsory vaccination does not lie with football, but with politics. Due to the fact that one or the other is not vaccinated in Bavaria, we now have a discussion. But that shouldn't be introduced through football."
Coach Julian Nagelsmann, who is fully vaccinated, was absent for the Bundesliga champions' 4-0 hammerings of Benfica and Hoffenheim this week after testing positive for covid-19.