Pele received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, calling it an “unforgettable day.”
The eighty-year-old Brazilian footballer posted the news on his social media channels along with an image of himself being shot in the right arm.
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Pele, a three-time World Cup champion, has not revealed where the dose was administered, but has stayed at his home in Guaruja, outside Sao Paulo, since the pandemic hit Brazil a year ago.
“Today is an unforgettable day: I got the vaccine!” Pele said. “The pandemic is not over yet. We must maintain discipline to preserve life until many people have been vaccinated.”
Less than 4% of the Brazilian population has been vaccinated against coronavirus.
Brazil has the second highest COVID-19 death toll in the world, with nearly 260,000 victims. Last week was the deadliest in the country since the start of the pandemic, with 8,244 confirmed deaths related to the virus.
Pele also urged his fans to wash their hands and stay home if possible.
“When you go out, don’t forget the mask and keep your social distance. This will happen if we can think of each other and help each other,” he said.