Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryare continuing their push for global access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Two years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic – and faced with disturbingly unequal access to COVID-19 vaccines – we urge world leaders to do what is necessary to end this crisis and unite behind a People’s Vaccine,” the letter begins.
The letter calls out the United Kingdom along with the European Union and Switzerland for “block[ing] the lifting of intellectual property rules which would enable the redistribution and scale-up of COVID-19 vaccines, test and treatment manufacturing in the global south.”
“The current approach is immoral, entirely self-defeating and also an ethical, economic and epidemiological failure,” the letter stated.
It said, “Now we are reuniting, in greater numbers, and with utmost urgency repeating our call for a People’s Vaccine. We appeal to world leaders to end this strategy of counter-productive nationalism and of protecting pharmaceutical monopolies and to finally act with international solidarity. Now is the time to renew the commitments made at the founding of the World HealthOrganization, where all states agreed to deliver ‘the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being.’ "
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also invested in The People’s Vaccine Alliance via their Archewell Foundation. The coalition, which is made up of over 80 organizations, said they were “proud to welcome Archewell Foundation to the Alliance and appreciate their support.”
Meghan, 40, andPrince Harry, 37, havespoken out multiple timesover the past two years about the need for global access to the COVID-19 vaccine, includingan appearance at Global Citizen Livein New York City’s Central Park in September.
“Every single person on this planet has a fundamental right to get this vaccine. That’s the point, but that’s not happening,” Meghan said on stage. “And while in this country and many others, you can go almost anywhere and get vaccinated, billions of people around the world cannot. This year, the world’s expected to produce enough doses to meet the target of vaccinating 70% of people in every single country. But it is wrong that so much of the vaccine supply has only gone to just 10 wealthy nations so far, and not everyone else. It’s just not okay.”
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
“Just think about the millions of vaccines that have been discarded this year. That’s like throwing away life vests when those around you are drowning,” Meghan said.
“So, global citizens, we ask you tonight, do you think we should start treating access to the vaccine as basic human right?” Harry concluded. “When we start making decisions through that lens, where every single person deserves equal access to the vaccine, then we can achieve what is needed together, for all of us.”
source: people.com
