A fit and healthy 42-year-old father with a love of rock climbing and bodybuilding has died of Covid-19 after refusing the vaccine because he thought he would be OK if he caught the virus, his twin sister has said.
John Eyers, a construction expert from Southport, Merseyside, had been climbing the Welsh mountains and wild camping one month before his death last week, which came exactly four weeks after he tested positive.
His twin sister Jenny McCann from London said he was the ‘fittest, healthiest person I know’ and had thought he would only have a ‘mild illness’ if he contracted coronavirus, adding that he had a ‘belief in his own immortality’. Mrs McCann said that Mr Eyers had ‘no underlying health conditions’ but did also state that he had asthma.
Before going onto a ventilator in hospital, Mr Eyers told his consultant that he wished he had been vaccinated – and died in intensive care after suffering from an infection and organ failure, leaving behind a daughter aged 19.
It comes as the Government continues to battle to encourage take-up of the Covid jab among young adults, after it was extended to all over-18s in mid-June. Ministers are worried that three million under-30s are yet to have one.
All 16 and 17-year-olds are soon to be offered coronavirus jabs, with Boris Johnson expected to accept the advice to do so from scientists immediately – paving the way for the rollout to 1.5million teenagers later this month.
In a further tragic twist, the devastated Mrs McCann has now been targeted by anti-vaxxers on social media, with some accusing her of being ‘paid by the Government’ while others said they were ‘not buying’ the story.
People aged 42 and over have been allowed to book their Covid-19 jab since April 27, which was two months before Mr Eyers contracted the virus. Mrs McCann, of Pinner, North West London, got her first jab on May 10.
Mr Eyers, who died on July 27 at Southport & Ormskirk Hospital, was described by Mrs McCann last month when he was still alive as a ‘staunch anti-vaxxer’. She added that the family had ‘all fallen out with him over his stance’.
The mother-of-two posted a series of tweets about Mr Eyers this week, saying: ‘My 42-year-old old twin brother died in ITU (intensive treatment unit) of Covid-19 last week. He died exactly four weeks after testing positive.
John Eyers, 42, had been climbing the Welsh mountains and wild camping one month before his death from Covid last week
Before going onto a ventilator in hospital, Mr Eyers told his consultant that he wished he had been vaccinated, his sister said
In May, his sister Jenny McCann had tweeted a selfie after getting her first jab, saying: ‘Full on tears after getting Covid jab’
Construction expert Mr Eyers was described by his sister Jenny McCann as the ‘fittest, healthiest person I know’
Mr Eyers, of Southport, Merseyside, leaves behind his parents and a daughter aged 19 as well as his twin sister Jenny
Mr Eyers took part in bodybuilding and had thought he would only have a ‘mild illness’ if he contracted coronavirus
Mr Eyers had thought he would be OK if he contracted Covid-19 but later admitted he should have got the jab, his sister said
‘He was the fittest, healthiest person I know. He was climbing Welsh mountains and wild camping four weeks before his death. The only pre-existing health condition he had was the belief in his own immortality.
‘He thought if he contracted Covid-19 he would be OK. He thought he would have a mild illness. He didn’t want to put a vaccine on his body. His was pumped full of every drug in the hospital. They threw everything at him.
‘But eventually the bedfellow of Covid-19, infection and organ failure, claimed his life. Before he was ventilated he told his consultant that he wished he had been vaccinated. That he wished he had listened. His death is a tragedy.
‘It shouldn’t have happened. He leaves a mum and dad, a sister (me), and a 19-year-old daughter. My two children have lost their fun uncle. The Uncle who would always play with them.
Graph shows the proportion of people in each age group who had received one Covid jab (light blue) and two (dark blue)
Top graph: Data from June 24 to July 12 (red bars), gathered by Imperial researchers as part of the REACT study, shows that infection rates were highest in five to 24-year-olds. Half of all Covid infections were in this group, despite them making up just 25 per cent of the population. Nine times more children aged 13 to 17 tested positive in the most recent testing window compared to rates from May 20 to June 7 (yellow bars). Bottom graph: Figures also show that infection rates were highest in London, where 0.94 per cent tested positive by July 12, up from just 0.13 per cent in the previous study period
Father-of-one Mr Eyers lived in Southport and had not been vaccinated against coronavirus when he was admitted to hospital
Mr Eyers died in an intensive care unit in hospital last week after suffering from an infection and organ failure
Mrs McCann (left) and Mr Eyers (right) are pictured as children with their mother Linda. Mr Eyers died of Covid-19 last week
‘The uncle that dressed up as Father Christmas on Christmas Day. My mum has lost her baby boy. My niece, her much loved and needed Dad.
Jabs for 16 and 17-year-olds will provide ‘really good knock-on effect’
Offering a Covid-19 vaccine to 16 and 17-year-olds could reduce transmission of the virus and limit disruption to their schooling, experts have said.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is expected to make a recommendation on extending the vaccination programme ‘imminently’, officials have said. Once approved by ministers more than a million more teenagers will be eligible to get a vaccine.
The latest data from the React study, tracking Covid-19 in the population, showed that younger people had driven a recent surge in infections in England, and scientists said extending the vaccine programme would reduce transmission and limit the spread of the virus in winter months.
Asked about giving 16 and 17-year-olds a vaccine, Steven Riley, professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London and co-author of the React study, told LBC: ‘Our data would support that in that we’d expect there to be a really good knock-on effect from extending the vaccinations for that group.’
Offering a vaccine to children age 12 and over ‘would also reduce transmission’, he added. He said: ‘What we should probably think about is September, October, November: how much immunity can we have in order to hopefully keep prevalence going down, so there is justification in extending those vaccinations down.’
NHS data shows 223,755 under-18s in England have already received a first dose. Around 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds will be eligible when the programme is extended. They are expected to receive the Pfizer vaccine, which has been approved for use in the UK for people aged 12 and over.
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‘This shouldn’t have happened. My mum wants people to know about John. For his story to save someone’s life. For pain and loss to drive people to get a vaccine.’
Back on May 10, Mrs McCann had tweeted a selfie of her with her vaccine card after getting her first jab, saying: ‘Full on tears after getting Covid jab. Really shows the collective weight we’ve all been carrying. So grateful to the NHS.’
Then on July 3, Mrs McCann wrote: ‘To all anti-vaxxers, my staunch, anti vaxxer, non-mask wearing, 42-year-old twin, is now in hospital with Covid and pneumonia. Rushed in an ambulance as struggled to breathe. Quite simply, if he’d had the vaccine, he wouldn’t be. Get the vaccine.’
Mr Eyers worked as a senior management and technical specification professional within the construction industry for chemical manufacturing company Kerakoll.
Tributes poured in from friends, with Lisa Hames saying: ‘I am still in utter shock after hearing such heartbreaking news last week about my incredible friend, John Eyers.
‘I first met John when we studied together at Southport College, which then lead on to us working together and for over 25 years we have still remained great friends.
‘John most certainly was one in a million, a true gentleman and will be truly missed by so many. My thoughts are with all his family & his friends.’
Charlie Garforth added: ‘John Eyers was a great guy who I had a lot of time for. This is tragic for the family.
‘But also a wake up call because because it feels very close to home. He had a lifestyle and the health most of us wish for in our early 40s.’
Linda Rowney said: ‘John was a very dear colleague, and friend of mine. To say I am extremely upset it an understatement. Please get vaccinated, it might save your life.’
Katie Halton wrote: T’he perfect gentleman, charismatic, kind, a heart of gold, the greatest friend, and the best napkin rose maker around. John Eyers, loved by everyone. You will be so missed.’
And Mo Jabbar said: ‘So many adventures we will no longer see, but I am truly grateful for the ones we shared.
‘The camps, the climbs, and the life chats on the way up to the Hangar. The laughs, the last minute trips to the Lakes and the freezing cold days on a ridge.
‘We were the mountain men. John, you were one of a kind, a true gent. You will be sorely missed. My heart bleeds for your family. They and you will be forever in my prayers.’
Mrs McCann was also praised on social media for sharing her story, with Newcastle-based GP Dr Alison George saying: ‘That is absolutely heartbreaking Jenny.
Mrs McCann posted a series of tweets on Monday about what happened and said her brother ‘wished he had listened’
‘I can only imagine the pain you must all feel right now. Those spreading and believing Covid disinformation need to know the cruel realities of what Covid can do. My thoughts are with you and your family.’
Tragedies of loved ones who refused Covid jab 
Matthew Keenan told friends that he ‘wished he had his jab’
A self-confessed vaccine sceptic who said ‘if he could turn back time he would’ after he was admitted to hospital last month with Covid-19 died with the virus aged 34.
Matthew Keenan told friends that he ‘wished he had his jab’ after he was hospitalised at Bradford Royal Infirmary and placed in an induced coma in a bid to save his life just two weeks ago.
Dr Leanne Cheyne, a respiratory consultant at the hospital, shared a photo of him in an oxygen mask and hooked up to a ventilator as he fought for his life.
Glenn Barratt told nurses that he wished he had been jabbed
A 51-year-old man who chose not to be jabbed died with Covid-19, with his final words to bedside nurses and doctors being: ‘I wish I had.’
Glenn Barratt, from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, is thought to have caught coronavirus while watching England v Croatia at a venue in June during Euro 2020.
All over 50s had been offered a jab by mid-April, but he chose not to have it and died in hospital after fighting the virus for weeks.
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And BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox tweeted: ‘Jenny, I am so so sorry for your devastating loss.’
Mrs McCann replied: ‘Thanks Sara. Your lovely voice on the radio is a firm favourite/balm to our soul in our house, and don’t even get me started on Between the Covers. My brother would be over the moon to know that he has caught your eye.’
Another Twitter user called Saurav said under Mrs McCann’s posts about her brother: ‘I can ratify this. I’m a marathoner and a power lifter, and I too had this belief that Covid can’t do anything to me.
‘The two days after I contracted were the worst days of my life. Luckily I immediately sought help, and we bought the symptoms under control by day four.’
Another Twitter user called Emma said: ‘As an A&E nurse this is something I am hearing a lot of lately. Unvaccinated younger adults ranging from 18-40 coming to hospital seriously unwell relying on oxygen therapy to help them survive. All with one thing in common. They all vow to take the vaccine once they recover.’
But among the condolences, Mrs McCann was targeted by anti-vaxxers. One refusenik said: ‘Sorry for your loss, but hard pass on getting the vax. Already had Covid so my anitbodies work better… I’m sure there is an underlying condition he had that you are leaving out so you can push the vax.’
Another added: ‘Cute story. Not buying it. But I will tell you about my fully vaccinated coworker currently in ICU.’
And a third said: ‘She is been paid by the Government and NHS to say all this – do not listen, it’s fake.’
More than 85million Covid-19 vaccines have now been administered in UK, with 88 per cent of adults having had a first dose and 72 per cent both doses.
Public Health England data shows that around 60,000 deaths, 22 million infections and 52,600 hospitalisations have been prevented by the vaccines up to July 23.
The coronavirus vaccination programme now looks set to be rolled out to more than a million more teenagers with new advice expected for 16 and 17-year-olds.
Some under-18s are already eligible for a jab if they have certain health conditions, live with an immunocompromised person, or are approaching their 18th birthday.
Some 223,755 under-18s in England have already received a first dose. Around 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds will be eligible when the programme is extended.
They are expected to receive the Pfizer vaccine, which has been approved for use in the UK for people aged 12 and over. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is expected to make a recommendation on extending the vaccination programme ‘imminently’.
** Do you have a loved one who died after saying no to the vaccine? Please email: [email protected] **
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