Triple-jabbed Irons fan gets game attendance advice

An 80 year old triple jabbed Hammers fan has been told he shouldn’t have a problem attending games but that it’s really an issue only he can weigh up.

The unnamed supporter was one of those who asked Sky science correspondent Thomas Moore for some guidance on the issue.

And it is a question many will be  glad was asked given the record levels of infections currently being experienced around the country from the Omricon variant.

With covid statuses being sort by e-mail from the club, the big question is that those over 70 are facing is whether they should take any sort of chance at all in these circumstances.

As Moore pointed out, in the end it has to be a personal decision but he appeared to believe that there wouldn’t be a major problem.

He  was keen to point out, however, that his response to the question did not represent medical advice.

He explained: This doesn’t constitute medical advice Jeff, but these are the things you need to weigh up.

First the booster is 88% effective at preventing people ending up in hospital with Omicron. Or flip it round: if they get infected they run slightly more than a one in 10 risk of going to hospital.

There is no evidence yet that the protection from the booster against serious disease is waning, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

Even if you are admitted to hospital you are likely to be less sick than if you had been infected with Delta back in the summer when you had only two doses of the vaccine.

Consider also the environment of the stadium. You’ll be watching the games outside, which reduces the risk, though there is obviously a crowd and you’ll have to go through more confined spaces to get to your seat. You can reduce your risk by wearing an FFP2 or FFP3 mask, which filters out almost all viruses in the air you breathe.

Against those risks you have to consider the benefits. There is a huge psychological boost to being at a game – particularly, in your case, with the Hammers having a great season”