William: I’m proud of my grandparents for having jab – you should have it too
PRINCE WILLIAM last night urged the country to take up the offer of a Covid-19 vaccine as his grandparents had done and heralded the successful rollout, saying: ‘There is a big UK story here to tell.’
In a video call with five people across the UK who are helping to get the vaccine into arms, the Prince said he was proud of the Queen and Prince Philip for having the jab at Windsor Castle earlier this month.
Told by Dr Nikki Kanani, Medical Director of Primary Care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, that there had been some hesitancy among the public, he replied: ‘My grandparents have had the vaccine and I am very proud of them for doing that. It is really important that everyone gets the vaccine when they are told to.’
Praising the ‘monumental’ effort that has seen almost 3.6 million injections given so far, the 38-yearold added: ‘I want to say huge congratulations to everyone involved.’
He added: ‘This isn’t something that happens really easy, and everyone has access to it in terms of around the world. This is because we have a world-leading NHS and we have the right people, the right research and development. There is a big UK story here to tell.’
Dr Helen Alefounder, a GP in Colwyn Bay, told the Prince that hundreds of care home residents had been vaccinated i n North Wales, but added: ‘It is tiring and I do wonder how we are all going to be feeling or looking if we did this again in a few months’ time.
‘At the moment everybody has got a bit of a buzz and doing really well. Challenging times ahead but together we will get it cracked.’
Dalene Steele, a nurse and clinical lead on Covid-19 vaccinations in care homes across Ayrshire and Arran in Scotland, gave an upbeat assessment of progress. ‘We have targeted care homes and done 90.5 per cent of care homes in Ayrshire. We worked seven days a week… There have been tears and lumps in the throat but there has been laughter as well. The last three weeks have been such an experience.’
William replied: ‘It’s nice to have that light at the end of the tunnel.’
Jake Plummer said he had started work as a volunteer when the vaccinations first rolled out in December. He is now seeing people return for their second jab at Solent NHS Trust and University Hospital in Southampton. Bronagh Hegarty, a pharmacist at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, said those involved had ‘ moved mountains day in, day out’. She added: ‘The enthusiasm and the vibe, “Lets get this done”, we are really making a difference.
‘It is palpable and just lovely to be involved.’
The Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, last weekend made public that they had received their vaccinations. Ministers believe by doing so they will encourage takeup of the injections.