Pregnant Meghan Markle has made an appearance during the Vax Live telecast, claiming COVID has wiped out a generation of progress for women of color.
The Duchess of Sussex made the assertion in a recorded statement, which appeared to be filmed in the backyard of her Montecito mansion.
‘As campaign chairs of Vax Live, my husband and I believe it’s critical that our recovery prioritizes the health, safety and success of everyone, and particularly women who have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic,’ Meghan stated.
‘Women, and especially women of color, have seen a generation of economic gain wiped out.’
Cradling her baby bump in a red floral blouse, Meghan continued: ‘My husband and I are thrilled to soon be welcoming a daughter. It’s a feeling of joy we share with millions of other families around the world.
‘When we think of her, we think of all the young women and girls around the globe who must be given the ability and support to lead us forward.’
The Vax Live concert took place at Los Angeles’ Lo-Fi stadium this past Sunday. Prince Harry appeared in person, but Meghan reportedly pulled out at the last minute.
However, her brief recorded statement aired at the conclusion of the concert’s telecast – which aired across the US on Saturday night on multiple TV channels.
Pregnant Meghan Markle has made an appearance during the Vax Live telecast, claiming COVID has wiped out a generation of progress for women of color
Meanwhile, Prince Harry warned against the ‘politicization’ of COVID-19 vaccines in a newly-released clip from Vax Live.
‘I think the most worrying thing for me and my wife [Meghan].. is science being politicized,’ Harry stated in the black and white clip, which was recorded backstage at the concert, and posted to Twitter on Saturday.
‘When we’re talking about life and death, which we’re talking about now, vaccines cannot be politicized’.
The Duke of Sussex further declared: ‘We must ensure that everyone around the world has equal access to the vaccine, otherwise none of this works.’
During the concert, held at Los Angeles’ Lo-Fi Stadium, Harry also took to the stage to be demand ‘equitable’ distribution of the vaccine.
The Vax Live concert aired on US television on Saturday night – after Harry and Meghan backed US President Joe Biden’s move to waive vaccine patents for poorer countries.
That decision caused shares for vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna to tumble on Thursday. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla described support of the waivers as ‘so wrong’,
Germany, Canada, the EU and the UK currently oppose Biden and Harry and Meghan’s push to waive the patents, fearing that it won’t help boost production in the short-term, and could hamper innovation in the longer-term.
Prince Harry has called for COVID-19 vaccines to be ‘equitably’ distributed across the globe during an appearance at the Vax Live concert in Los Angeles
![The Duke of Sussex took to the stage at the event, held at So-Fi Stadium, telling a crowd of healthcare workers that they 'cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution [of the vaccine] to every corner of the world'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/09/02/42499386-9558211-The_Duke_of_Sussex_took_to_the_stage_at_the_event_held_at_So_Fi_-a-57_1620522432419.jpg)
The Duke of Sussex took to the stage at the event, held at So-Fi Stadium, telling a crowd of healthcare workers that they ‘cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution [of the vaccine] to every corner of the world’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Vax Live campaign chairs. They are pushing for vaccine ‘equity’ so that people in poorer countries can have access to the jabs at the same rate as those in the first world
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (left) hit out at the Biden administration’s support for waiving intellectual property protections to allow poorer countries to produce vaccines developed by companies like it and Moderna, potentially cutting into their profits
Earlier this week, Harry and Meghan urged vaccine manufacturers to ‘temporarily suspend’ intellectual property rights in order to help those in developing countries gain access to jabs.
They marked Archie’s second birthday by asking for $5 donations to aid global distribution.
The couple shared an emotive letter to the CEOs of Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Norovax on Thursday as they launched a campaign to ‘ensure equitable vaccine access globally’.
The lengthy note, published to Global Citizen, asks the vaccine bosses to ‘act with extraordinary purpose, responsibility, and leadership’ in response to a ‘equity crisis’ and use ‘every possible measure to increase global supply.’
These proposed measures include ‘the temporary suspension of intellectual property and extraordinary global public-private collaboration resulting in wider transfer of technology and know-how.’
AstraZeneca has already vowed not to profit from the vaccine during the pandemic, but Harry and Meghan today urged the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna to follow suit and supply at least 100 million doses of their vaccinations at ‘not-for-profit prices’ this year.
They also requested that the two pharma giants accelerate their supply and deliver the jabs to COVAX – Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, which protects people against the virus ‘regardless of wealth’ – as soon as possible.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have urged supporters to make a donation to a vaccine equity campaign to mark their son Archie’s second birthday