Tuesday 27 April 2021

The Sussexes Chair Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World

We've been excited to see what 2021 would hold for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Today, we received insight into just that with news the couple are serving as campaign chairs of Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: the Concert to Reunite the World. Harry and Meghan are joining the fight for vaccine equity across the world. Their roles have seen the couple "leading a coordinated drive across the private sector to raise critical funds for COVAX -- a vaccine-sharing program co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO)." A special concert to be broadcast on Saturday, 8 May, will feature a host of well-known faces joining forces to deliver vaccines to frontline workers across the globe.

In a statement, the Duke and Duchess said, "Over the past year, our world has experienced pain, loss, and struggle - together. Now we need to recover and heal -- together. We can’t leave anybody behind. We will all benefit, we will all be safer, when everyone, everywhere has equal access to the vaccine. We must pursue equitable vaccine distribution, and in that, restore faith in our common humanity. This mission couldn’t be more critical or important."

ET Canada reports:

'Held at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on May 2, Global Citizen’s “Vax Live” will be “the first large-scale music event for a COVID-compliant audience composed of fully vaccinated front-line healthcare and essential workers.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are serving as campaign chairs of “Vax Live” and will be delivering an important global message for vaccine equity during the event. To help ensure equitable access to the vaccine, they’ve also been leading a co-ordinated drive across the private sector to raise critical funds for the vaccine-sharing program Covax.'

The evening will see a call for "dollars for doses" to help vaccinate more than 27 million frontline workers. Already commitments have been secured for over 2 million doses. More from the Archewell website on the vision for the endeavour:

'During the program, VAX LIVE will call on philanthropists and corporations to donate enough “dollars for doses” to help vaccinate more than 27 million frontline health workers. Global Citizen will also implore governments to pledge a total of $19 billion to get 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses plus tests and treatments to the world’s poorest countries by the end of 2021.

In response to VAX LIVE’s efforts thus far, Cisco, Analog Devices Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, and a Swiss foundation that prefers to remain anonymous have announced commitments totaling $11.5 million to fund the purchase of an estimated 2.3 million vaccine doses for health workers.

As part of the campaign, Spain announced the donation of an estimated 7.5 million vaccine doses as soon as 50% of the Spanish population is vaccinated. France announced starting the sharing of doses for health workers across Africa, with an initial donation of 100,000 this month and at least 500,000 by June.'

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris will make appearances at the event. The Hill reports the Commander-in-Chief will make a "special appearance" as part of the White House's We Can Do This initiative to increase public confidence in vaccines and reinforce the importance of measures such as mask wearing and hand washing. The participation of the President, First Lady and Vice-President speaks to the gravity of this fundraising event.

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Harry had the opportunity to get to know Joe and Jill when they supported and attended the Invictus Games in Orlando in 2016. They are both incredibly passionate about supporting veterans.

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When Meghan spoke to Tom Bradby in 2019, Kamala Harris tweeted:

Other leaders participating include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Meghan has met PM Trudeau on a number of occasions.

The L.A. Times reports:

'As of April, 60 nations had still not yet received any COVID-19 vaccines, Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans told the Associated Press.

“Last autumn, I called for the sharing of the doses ordered by our countries, to ensure both solidarity and health security,” Macron said in a statement. “With the European vaccine-sharing mechanism via the COVAX initiative that France is inaugurating, we are in concrete solidarity in the fight against the virus, which does not care about borders.”

Hosted by Selena Gomez, the concert will feature performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, H.E.R. (who won an Academy Award over the weekend, Foo Fighters and J Balvin. The line-up will include appearances by Sean Penn, Gayle King, Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha and Olivia Munn.

A number of viewing options below. 


It can also be live streamed on Global's Citizen's YouTube channel.

I'm very much looking forward to this and hoping as many vaccines as possible can be distributed worldwide. I have no doubt the past several months working on this project have been incredibly rewarding for Harry and Meghan. As chairs, they will have had input every step of the way, from fundraising behind the scenes to bringing their experience and contacts to bear. When we hear vaccine figures in millions, we're talking about transformative impact. It's all the more important it's focused on countries most in need.

13 comments:

  1. God bless the Sussex family and all those that are involve in the planning.....

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  2. I hate to "leave" Prince Phillip but I know it has to be done. This is very exciting! I keep being surprised by them. And I love the Foo Fighters! :) On an unrelated topic, I have decided that the Queen is and perhaps has been for some time focused on her family. Looking back at the expression of hers and that of PP when they met Archie and the recent calls/meetings with M&H, I think the Queen represents unconditional love among ALL her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I am so glad she is like this because it must be such an anchor for Harry and relief for Meghan. And it makes sense -- she can't monitor all her family members.

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    1. It's true Allison, the look of both the Queen and Prince Philip was one of genuine happiness and I too believe that her family and their happiness is of great importance to her. If you love someone let them go, it doesn't change your love for them, but gives the wings to fly and that's what we are seeing with Harry and Meghan now. The Queen has more insight and vision than many give her credit for.

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  3. I am super thrilled to see that Meghan and Harry are using their platform to promote global COVID 19 vaccinations!! Love to see their work continuing

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  4. These good I love that their promoting their cause in global covid 19 they love what there are doing

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  5. Great cause! Another big topic is to release the information in how the vaccine can be produced, so that other coutries have a chance to build up their own supplies and do their own research. Only then there can be a fair distribution. Many governments have given lots of money into the research but the profit goes to the companies and shareholders. Buying vaccines can only be a short fix but the world shouldn't forget about the long term goal- especially when this vaccination is going to be a yearly distributed one like the flu shot.
    C.

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  6. Anyone know how to get in to the concert? Frontline doctor fully vaccinated...

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    1. I don't think there will be an actual concert held but as an online only set up. At least that is what I took from the anouncement.
      C.

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  7. If it is for the salvation of each other then, may this initiative be a success. It is admirable for the Sussexes to contribute in this way to help so many people; it is their duty and they do it so well. I can't wait to see this event.

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  8. I am happy to see that they are doing something important. Prince Harry recently narrated a special video for Earth Day, it was amazing.

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  9. Sheryl from BC Canada29 April 2021 at 20:37

    I applaud the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for being the true Global Humanitarians that they are and using their names and foundations, charities etc to further these crucial causes. Vaccination is so incredibly important for "every" country to stem the tide of this horrible virus. Got my jab two weeks ago and my hope is that everyone who wants one gets it soonest.

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  10. Très belle initiative je suis très contente moi pour ce projet qu il font surtout pour promouvoir les vaccinations dans les pays pauvres merci à vax succès total

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  11. I tried posting yesterday but didn't go through.
    thanks charlotte for a nice post nice to see their work.
    Meghan and Archie were photographed a few days ago he is so adorable and Meghan looks great with her growing baby bump.

    https://pagesix.com/2021/04/22/meghan-markle-archie-seen-for-first-time-since-harrys-us-return/

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