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 73-year-old Duchess of Cornwall has had his first coronavirus stroke, described the 100,000 deaths in the UK, passed last month, as a “more worrying milestone”.
The heir to the throne’s comments can be found at a main address this week at the British Asian Trust’s webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine – Facts for the BAME Community.
Charles, the founding royal patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), will say: ‘In view of my concern for the health and well-being of our ethnic minority communities, I am very pleased to be able to introduce this important debate on vaccination.
The Prince of Wales (shown 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 relentless pandemic.
“Over the past year, we have all been inspired by countless stories of dedication to duty not only from those who work tirelessly in our wonderful National Health Service or social care, but also in all forms of public service, as well as course – in business, industry, trade and the voluntary sector.
“We need the last reserves of his selfless service and his commitment to help defeat this pernicious threat.”
To the address, which will be delivered on Thursday via a video message, he will add: “Recently, I fear that we have reached a more worrying milestone in this seemingly endless campaign, as we marked the tragic loss of one hundred thousand souls.
“It is clear that the virus has affected all parts of the country and all sections of society, but it is also clear that there are particular challenges facing certain sectors of our society, especially in some ethnic minority communities.
“What saddens me even more is to hear that these challenges are further exacerbated by the variable uptake of vaccines that ultimately offer us a way out of last year’s suffering.”
Prince Charles, 72, who along with the Duchess of Cornwall, 73 (shown alongside December), has had the first coronavirus stroke, described the 100,000 deaths in the UK, approved last month, as a “more troubling milestone.”
Clarence House confirmed during the week that Charles and Camilla have had the first vaccines against Covid-19.
As a 70-year-old, the couple is in the fourth priority group for throwing blows.
Confirmation comes after the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh received the injection last month, announced in an unusual move by Buckingham Palace, which rarely comments on the private health issues of the 94-year-old head of state and of his consort, 99 years.
Charles had previously said he would get “absolutely” the Covid-19 vaccine when it was offered to him.
He and his eldest son, Prince William, contracted coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic.
Charles was described as having mild symptoms and lost his sense of taste and smell for a period, while the virus was reported to have been hit “quite hard” by William.
The comments of the heir to the throne, royal founding patron of the British Asian Trust (BAT), are in a keynote address this week at the BAT webinar: Covid-19 Vaccine – Data for the BAME Community
There has been concern in the government regarding the rate of vaccine administration among some communities, including some ethnic minorities.
Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, said he urges everyone who receives a letter to take the vaccine without hesitation.
He said officials have been working with religious groups and leaders of local communities to encourage everyone to come forward.
“Do not doubt it 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 will help to restore the normalcy of society, ”he said.
The government has been urged to prioritize the vaccination of ethnic minority groups after research shows that people of South Asian descent have continued to experience disproportionately high mortality rates.
Recently published research showed that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis have experienced an “alarming” risk of dying from coronavirus in both waves of the pandemic, compared to British whites.
The authors said people from South Asian groups are more likely to live in disadvantaged areas and in large, multigenerational households. A higher proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi men work as taxi drivers, shopkeepers and landlords than any other ethnicity, occupations with a higher risk of coronavirus exposure.