Prince Harry, looking dapper as ever, made a surprise appearance to present the GQ Heroes of the Year award to the Oxford scientists who developed the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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A call for all to be jabbed
But not only was he there to praise the team of scientists for their monumental contribution to the fight against COVID-19, the Prince also urged the world to come together for mass vaccination. He also condemned the amount of information discouraging people from getting the vaccine.
As it stands currently, many developing countries have yet to obtain adequate access to vaccines to be able to inoculate their citizens. This is most visible when compared to richer countries such as the UK, Canada and the US, which have been criticized for hoarding a large percentage of the world's supply of vaccines. Prince Harry said:
We cannot move forward together unless we address this imbalance as one. Families around the world are being overwhelmed by mass-scale misinformation across news media and social media, where those who peddle in lies and fear are creating vaccine hesitancy.
And added:
Which in turn leads to divided communities and eroding trust.This is a system we need to break if we are to overcome Covid-19 and the risk of new variants.
'Heroes of the year'
The Duke of Sussex proceeded to personally thank and congratulate professors Dame Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green for their work on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, calling them 'heroes of the year.' He also went on to say:
They are our nation's pride and we are deeply indebted to their service. For the rest of us, including global governments, pharmaceutical leaders and heads of business, we have to keep doing our part.
Before adding:
That must include sharing vaccine science and supporting and empowering developing countries with more flexibility. Where you are born should not affect your ability to survive when the drugs and know-how exist to keep you alive and well.
