The Prince of Wales has expressed concern about the ‘variable uptake’ of the Covid-19 vaccine in some ethnic minority communities.
Prince Charles, 72, who, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, had his first coronavirus shot, described the death toll of 100,000 in the UK, passed last month, as a ‘most sobering milestone’.
The heir apparent’s comments are in a keynote address he delivers this week during the British Asian Trust’s webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine – Facts for the BAME Community.
Charles, Royal Founder and Patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), will say: “Given my concerns about the health and well-being of our ethnic minority communities, I am so pleased to introduce this critically important discussion about vaccination.
The Prince of Wales (pictured at a vaccination center in December) has expressed concern about the ‘variable uptake’ of the Covid-19 vaccine in some ethnic minority communities
Everyone present today represents the collective effort we have made as a society to combat this brutal pandemic.
Over the past year, we have all been inspired by countless records of the devotion to duty, not only from those who worked tirelessly in our amazing National Health Service or in the social care sector, but also in all forms of public service as well as – from course – in the business, industry, trade and the voluntary sector.
“We need every last reserve of their selfless service and devotion to help defeat this pernicious threat.
In the speech, due to be delivered via video message on Thursday, he will add: ‘Recently, I fear we reached a very sobering milestone in this seemingly endless campaign as we marked the tragic loss of a hundred thousand souls.
It is clear that the virus has affected all parts of the country and all parts of society – but it is also clear that certain parts of our society, especially in some ethnic minority communities, face particular challenges.
“What saddens me even more is to hear that those challenges are made worse by the variable intake of the vaccines that are finally giving us a way out of the suffering of the past year.”
Prince Charles, 72, who had his first coronavirus shot along with the Duchess of Cornwall (73) (pictured together in December), described the UK’s death toll of 100,000 passed last month as a ‘most sobering milestone’
Clarence House confirmed this week that Charles and Camilla have had their first Covid-19 vaccinations.
As over 70 year olds, the couple is in the fourth priority group for the rollout of the jabs.
The confirmation comes after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh received the injection last month, announced in an unusual move from Buckingham Palace, which rarely comments on the private health issues of the 94-year-old head of state and her consort, 99.
Charles had previously said he would ‘absolutely’ get the Covid-19 vaccine when it was offered to him.
He and his eldest son, Prince William, both contracted coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic.
Charles was described with mild symptoms and lost his sense of taste and smell over time, while William was reported to be hit ‘pretty hard’ by the virus.
The comments of the heir apparent, who is the royal founding patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), are featured in a keynote address he delivered this week on BAT’s webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine – Facts for the BAME- community
Concerns have been raised by the government about the speed of vaccine uptake in some communities, including some ethnic minorities.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said he urges anyone who receives a letter to get the vaccine without hesitation.
He said officials have been working with faith groups and local community leaders to encourage everyone to come forward.
‘Don’t hesitate at all. These vaccines are safe, they are effective against Covid, they will protect you, they will protect your loved ones and, of course, they help bring society back to normal, ‘he said.
The government has been urged to prioritize vaccination of minority ethnic groups after research shows that people of South Asian background still have disproportionately high death rates for Covid-19.
Recently published research has shown that Bengali and Pakistani people have an ‘alarmingly’ higher risk of dying from the coronavirus during both pandemic waves, compared to British whites.
The authors said people from South Asian groups are more likely to live in deprived neighborhoods and in large multi-generation households. A higher proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi men work as taxi drivers, shopkeepers and owners than any other ethnic background – occupations with a higher risk of exposure to the coronavirus.