Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s marquee character and a harsh critic of anti-vaccine athletes, mentioned Monday he discovered firsthand the worth of the COVID-19 jabs after a harrowing bout with the virus over New 12 months’s. (Watch the video beneath.)
Docs “instructed me had I not been vaccinated, I wouldn’t be right here,” Smith mentioned within the return to his present, “First Take.”
Smith, who obtained two photographs however was not boosted, revealed the small print of his combat towards the coronavirus, which has killed greater than 850,000 in the USA.
“I had a 103-degree fever each evening. Wakened with chills and a pool of sweat,” Smith mentioned. “Complications had been large. Coughing profusely. … I used to be within the hospital New 12 months’s Eve into New 12 months’s Day. That’s how I introduced within the New 12 months.”
The sickness broken his respiratory system to the purpose he’s nonetheless not totally recovered.
“I had pneumonia in each lungs,” Smith mentioned, his voice nonetheless raspy. “My liver was dangerous. And it ravaged me to the purpose the place even now I’ve to watch my quantity, gotta get within the health club each day, stroll earlier than you run and work your manner again as a result of I’m nonetheless not 100% with my lungs, however I’m COVID-negative. … I’m on the highway to restoration.”
On Dec. 21, Smith introduced on the air remotely that he had examined optimistic for COVID-19 however on the time he had gentle signs. His situation would deteriorate in a matter of days.
Smith has launched epic takedowns of the Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving and Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers for refusing to be vaccinated (and the latter for mendacity about it).
