Prince Harry calls for COVID vaccine to be ‘equitably’ distributed across the world at VaxLive

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Prince Harry says ‘we cannot allow science and vaccines to be politicized’ in newly released clip from Vax Live concert after he and Meghan backed Biden move to waive vaccine patents for poorer countries

  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Vax Live campaign chairs 
  • Vax Live charity concert was held at LA’s So-Fi Stadium last Sunday to advocate for equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution 
  • In a newly released clip taken backstage at the event, Harry stated: ‘We cannot allow science and vaccines to be politicized’
  • Earlier this week, Harry and Meghan marked  son Archie’s second birthday by asking for fans to ‘advocate for vaccine equity’
  • They support President Biden’s push to waive vaccine patents so poorer countries can quickly gain access to the jabs
  • Pfizer and Moderna stocks have tumbled in the wake of that announcement 

By Andrew Court For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Prince Harry has called has warned against the ‘politicization’ of COVID-19 vaccines in a newly-released clip from his week’s Vax Live concert.  

I think the most worrying thing for me and my wife [Meghan].. is science being politicized,’ Harry stated in the black and white clip, which was recorded backstage at the concert, and posted to Twitter on Saturday. 

‘When we’re talking about life and death, which we’re talking about now, vaccines cannot be politicized,’ he added.

The Duke of Sussex further declared: ‘We must ensure that everyone around the world has equal access to the vaccine, otherwise none of this works.’  

During the concert, held at Los Angeles’ Lo-Fi Stadium, Harry also took to the stage to be demand ‘equitable’ distribution of the vaccine.  

The VaxLive concert aired on US television on Saturday night – after Harry and Meghan backed US President Joe Biden‘s move to waive vaccine patents for poorer countries. 

That decision caused shares for vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna to tumble on Thursday. 

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla described support of the waivers as ‘so wrong’, 

At present, Germany, Canada, the EU and the UK similarly oppose Biden and Harry and Meg

Prince Harry has called for COVID-19 vaccines to be 'equitably' distributed across the globe during an appearance at the Vax Live concert in Los Angeles

Prince Harry has called for COVID-19 vaccines to be ‘equitably’ distributed across the globe during an appearance at the Vax Live concert in Los Angeles 

The Duke of Sussex took to the stage at the event, held at So-Fi Stadium, telling a crowd of healthcare workers that they 'cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution [of the vaccine] to every corner of the world'

The Duke of Sussex took to the stage at the event, held at So-Fi Stadium, telling a crowd of healthcare workers that they ‘cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution [of the vaccine] to every corner of the world’ 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Vax Live campaign chairs. They are pushing for vaccine 'equity' so that people in poorer countries can have access to the jabs at the same rate as those in the first world

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Vax Live campaign chairs. They are pushing for vaccine ‘equity’ so that people in poorer countries can have access to the jabs at the same rate as those in the first world  

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (pictured) hit out at the Biden administration's support for waiving intellectual property protections to allow poorer countries to produce vaccines developed by companies like it and Moderna, potentially cutting into their profits

Biden is pictured touring a water plant in Louisiana on Thursday as his administration came under attack from Pfizer

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (left) hit out at the Biden administration’s support for waiving intellectual property protections to allow poorer countries to produce vaccines developed by companies like it and Moderna, potentially cutting into their profits

Earlier this week, Harry and Meghan urged vaccine manufacturers to ‘temporarily suspend’ intellectual property rights in order to help those in developing countries gain access to jabs. 

They marked Archie’s second birthday by asking for $5 donations to aid global distribution. 

The couple shared an emotive letter to the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Norovax on Thursday as they launched a campaign to ‘ensure equitable vaccine access globally’.

The lengthy note, published to Global Citizen, asks the vaccine bosses to ‘act with extraordinary purpose, responsibility, and leadership’ in response to a ‘equity crisis’ and use ‘every possible measure to increase global supply.’ 

These proposed measures include ‘the temporary suspension of intellectual property and extraordinary global public-private collaboration resulting in wider transfer of technology and know-how.’ 

AstraZeneca has already vowed not to profit from the vaccine during the pandemic, but Harry and Meghan today urged the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna to follow suit and supply at least 100 million doses of their vaccinations at ‘not-for-profit prices’ this year.

They also requested that the two pharma giants accelerate their supply and deliver the jabs to COVAX – Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, which protects people against the virus ‘regardless of wealth’ – as soon as possible.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have urged supporters to make a donation to a vaccine equity campaign to mark their son Archie's second birthday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have urged supporters to make a donation to a vaccine equity campaign to mark their son Archie’s second birthday