Spurs to be vaccine hub

TOTTENHAM have donated their £1billion home to the NHS as a potential hub for rolling out the Covid vaccine. As it emerged clubs will not receive early use of the vaccine despite the decision to allow elite sport to continue during the third national lockdown, it is understood the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be available to the NHS as a supplementary centre for the lifesaving injections. Spurs have been at the forefront of helping their community combat the pandemic. Their stadium was taken over by the NHS during the first national lockdown that started last March for antenatal care, and the site is also being used as a testing

centre. there are currently two authorised Covid vaccines, with the nhS working on approving a third, raising hope the injections can be rolled out at a speedier rate in the coming weeks. Sportsmail understands the FA also volunteered the use of Wembley as a potential vaccination centre — but complexities with the inner workings of the national stadium mean it is unlikely to be used. Premier League and eFL clubs have been told they will not receive any preferential treatment for the vaccine. Professional football, despite the announcement of the latest national lockdown on Monday, will continue as normal under the elite sport protocols, leading to concerns that players could be susceptible to infection. But the Government will prioritise the most vulnerable members of the society for the vaccination, meaning footballers will have to wait — a stance clubs fully accept — even though the Premier League yesterday revealed a record number of 40 positive tests. there were 28 when 1,311 players and club staff were tested between December 28-31, and 12 more from 984 tests between January 1-3. As it stands, there is no intention to purchase vaccines privately, with clubs fully aware of a potential PR backlash if they were seen to be taking away medication from the most needy.