Pele received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, saying it was “a day of forgetfulness.”
The 80-year-old Brazilian footballer posted a big post on the news on his social media channels along with a photo of himself getting the bullet in his right arm.
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Pele, a three-time World Cup champion, did not reveal where the dose was given, but has been living at his home in Guaruja, just outside Sao Paulo, since the outbreak. Brazil pandemic a year ago.
“Today is a memoryless day – I was vaccinated!” Said Pele. “The pandemic is not over yet. We need to maintain control to preserve life so that 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 outbreak began, with 8,244 confirmed virus-related deaths.
Pele persuaded his followers to wash their hands and stay at home if possible.
“When you go out don’t forget your mask and keep a social pace. This will pass if we can think of other people and help each other,” he said.