No 10 says professional sportspeople should get Covid jab after Australia bans top tennis player

Downing Street has urged professional sportspeople to get vaccinated, following Australia’s refusal of entry to tennis player Novak Djokovic.

The 20 time Serbian grand slam winner was held for several hours in Melbourne airport before border officials said he had not met entry rules as he had not received a Covid vaccination.

He had previously been granted medical exemption by two independent panels organised by Tennis Australia and Victoria state.

“We absolutely think that everyone should get vaccinated and get boosted, regardless of profession,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told the No 10 briefing this afternoon, without referring to Mr Djokovic in particular.

“We do absolutely want to see everyone get vaccinated,” they went on.

“We know from a raft of evidence that it is completely safe regardless of your profession and that everyone should come forward, both to benefit themselves and to benefit others.”