Royal request for vaccine uptake to fight virus

PRINCE WILLIAM has become the latest member of the royal family to encourage people to get vaccinated to protect themselves against Covid-19, saying it was a “really, really important” way to combat the pandemic.

The Duke of Cambridge made the comments during a video call with a London-based family (pictured together, right) who spoke about their anxiety around the jabs.

Shivali Modha has been shielding since the start of the pandemic due to a pre-existing medical condition. She was joined on the call by husband Hiren and their daughters Shyaama, 11, and Jyoti, 9.

“The idea of this vaccination is new, but the more people that get it, you realise actually it’s helping and the numbers are showing that. Figures are coming down – all positive things,” she said.

Modha, who has type 2 diabetes, said social media posts had left her concerned, but having spoken to members of her family who had taken the vaccine, doctors and the charity Diabetes UK, she was encouraged to get the vaccine. William cautioned against believing misinformation around the jabs circulating on social media.

“Catherine (the Duchess of Cambridge and his wife) and I are not medical experts by any means, but if it’s any consolation, we can wholeheartedly support having vaccinations. It’s really, really important,” said William, who was joined by his wife on the call.

The latest royal intervention comes days after the Queen, in a video call with health officials, had spoken about how she had found her own experience of getting her first vaccine dose last month painless. She had encouraged people to think about others and get their vaccine when called by the NHS.