Pelé received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, calling it an “unforgettable day”.
The great 80-year-old Brazilian football posted the news on their social networks along with a photo of themselves receiving the shot in the right arm.
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Pelé, three-time world champion, did not reveal where the dose was administered, but he has been staying at his home in Guarujá, on the outskirts of São Paulo, since the pandemic hit Brazil a year ago.
“Today is an unforgettable day – I received the vaccine!”, Said Pelé. “The pandemic is not over yet. We must maintain discipline to preserve lives until many people have had the vaccine ”.
Less than 4% of the Brazilian population has already been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Brazil has the second highest number of COVID-19 deaths in the world, around 260,000 victims. Last week was the most lethal in the country since the pandemic began, with 8,244 confirmed virus-related deaths.
Pele also asked his followers to wash their hands and stay at home, if possible.
“When you go out, don’t forget your mask and keep your social distance. It will pass if we can think of others and help each other,” he said.