Back of the queue I am way down list for jab, says Charles at GRH
PRINCE Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall sported some elegant PPE when they visited Gloucester to see the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out, but say it will be some time before they qualify for a jab themselves.
At the moment, the Royal pair are too young to get their jabs as part of the scheme, which is starting off with the over-80s and front-line health and care workers.
But Camilla, 73, and 72-year-old Charles are clearly not taking any chances until it is their turn.
They both wore masks and visors when they visited Gloucestershire Royal Hospital last Thursday.
The prince told health workers administering and receiving the Pfizer jab: “I think I am way down the list and will have to wait. I think I’ll have to wait for the Astrazeneca one before it gets to my turn. I’m some way down the list.”
Even though the prince has antibodies after catching the virus, he and his wife made sure they were protected as they were shown around by Deborah Lee, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, and chief nurse Professor Steve Hams, who is managing the vaccination programme in Gloucestershire.
Surprisingly, the royal wardrobe had not matched Camilla’s cloth mask to the red and blue check coat she wore to keep out the cold, or her black leather boots and gloves.
Instead, the tailored face covering was made from a pale blue floral fabric with purple flowers.
Although it covered her mouth, she could still be seen smiling behind the perspex mask.
The prince was pictured wearing a similar blue cloth mask.
The pair unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit, which follows one in June that was the first engagement outside a royal residence by any member of the royal family following the first national lockdown.
The trust retains its links with Gloucestershire-born physician Dr Edward Jenner, who pioneered vaccines and created the smallpox one.
Ms Lee said: “We feel very privileged to be one of the first centres to mobilise this programme.
“We’ve all seen the heartache and the sadness that has affected so many of our colleagues and also the community.
“To be at the forefront of the programme that brings hope and to have you with us to enjoy this moment means the absolute world to us.”
Coral Boston, a senior infection control nurse and the hospital trust’s equality, diversity and inclusion lead, said Charles talked about the disproportionate numbers of BAME people that Covid affected and how important it was for people of colour to have the vaccination.
Mrs Boston, who was vaccinated herself last week, added: “I don’t want to see any more deaths, I don’t want to see any more of my colleagues end up in ITU.
“So it was really important that he acknowledged and knew about the fact that people of colour were dying and people of colour were more affected by the virus.”
Prof Hams said the royal visit gave the team a big boost after a tough ten days to get the programme up and running in the county.
“They were talking about the vaccine: how we store it, how we put it together, the number of people that have been vaccinated, and any sideeffects,” he said.
”They also spoke about priority groups, and they were really clear in saying that they were not old enough yet, which is good for them. They are not first in the queue just yet.”
But he said despite it being an important step, it was also vital to remember the ‘hands, face and space’ message to save lives.
He added: “I have called this the vaccine of hope because we’ve had a really difficult 12 months, and I have personally seen the sadness and the upset and the destruction this awful virus has played on our communities and our colleagues.”
A tweet from Clarence House, which received several hundred likes, said: “The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have paid a visit to @gloshospitals Covid-19 Vaccination Hub in support of the recent vaccination rollout programme.
“This follows the Prince and the Duchess’s visit to the hospital in June, following the end of the first lockdown.
“The Vaccination Hub started vaccinating front-line health and care workers last week and to date has vaccinated over 1,124 NHS staff.”
I think I am way down the list and will have to wait The Prince of Wales