Paul McCartney fears the internet is allowing anti-vaxxers to ‘take hold’

78-year-old singer said he’d like to encourage others to get the vaccine too

Paul McCartney has encouraged people to get the coronavirus vaccine when it’s made readily available.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday (18 December), the 78-year-old singer said that he currently had no plans to tour in 2021.

“We’ll see what happens with the vaccine and everyone doing all the rules,” he said.

Asked whether he would be keen to get the vaccine, McCartney continued: “Yeah I will, and I’d like to encourage people to get it too.”

He continued: “There used to be anti-vaccine people, that was OK, that was their choice. But with the internet now these things really take hold and so you do get these people who won’t take it.”

Describing how he hadn’t historically been “a great vaccinator”, he added: “[But] with this, it’s much more serious. If I am allowed to get it, I will.”

McCartney also said that he believes Glastonbury Festival will be cancelled for 2021, adding: “100,000 people, closely packed together with flags and no masks. Talk about super-spreader.”

McCartney had been due to headline the 2020 musical event before it was cancelled due to coronavirus. Earlier this week, the festival’s organiser Emily Eavis told BBC News that she hoped the event would go ahead in 2021, despite the “huge uncertainty” surrounding live music in the pandemic.

The Independent has contacted Glastonbury for comment.

McCartney has now released his new album McCartney III, which was recorded in lockdown.

You can read The Independent’s four-star review here.