Ryan flyin’ the flag for jabs

West Coast Eagles premiership player and Geraldton’s own Liam Ryan has joined the fight against COVID-19 after receiving his first jab on Wednesday — although the forward admitted he was hesitant about getting the jab at first. Fifty Eagles players and staff members rolled up for WA at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre clinic to receive their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Ryan, who originally said he was not going to get the vaccine, has turned his viewpoint around and has been administered the jab. “I was saying I wasn’t going to get it but I think it’s very important for the kids and the elders and everyone,” he said. “I was a bit nervous coming in. Now I’ve got the jab the nervousness is gone. “I encourage all to get it. If you can, get it ASAP.” West Coast are firmly behind the Roll Up for WA campaign, with captain Luke Shuey saying vaccination is necessary to protect the community. “To keep our loved ones and the community safe we all need to do our bit and get vaccinated,” he said. “It’s the only way to get life back to some normality, and getting the jab was a really quick and easy process.” The latest numbers from the Mid West region for COVID-19 vaccines show promise as 24,362 or half of all eligible residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. More than 15,000 people in the Mid West are fully vaccinated.