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Harry and Meghan call for vaccine equity during Global Citizen Live

Photo credit: Theo Wargo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Theo Wargo - Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex believe that inequitable vaccine distribution is a human rights crisis.

Harry and Meghan gave a passionate joint speech in favour of global vaccine equity this weekend at the New York event for Global Citizen Live at the Great Lawn in Central Park. The couple called for equal global vaccine distribution, imploring world leaders and pharmaceutical companies to treat access to the Covid-19 vaccine as "basic human rights".

For the televised event, Meghan wore an elegant white shift dress by Valentino, embellished with floral designs at the collars, sleeves, and hem, paired with black heels and minimal jewellery. Prince Harry opted for a white button-up shirt with the collar worn open, under a tailored black suit.

Photo credit: Theo Wargo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Theo Wargo - Getty Images

"Every single person on this planet has a fundamental right to get this vaccine," Meghan said. "That's the point. But that's not happening. And while in this country and many others you can go almost anywhere and get vaccinated, billions of people around the world cannot."

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Prince Harry also shared a summary of the couple's discussions regarding vaccine distribution with world health experts over the past year. The duke and duchess also met with world leaders during several meetings in NYC over the past few days.

"They said many countries are ready to produce vaccines at home, yet they aren't allowed to, because ultra-wealthy pharmaceutical companies are not sharing the recipes to make them. These countries have the means the ability and the workers to start manufacturing. All they are waiting for is the vaccine intellectual property to be waived and for the vaccine technology to be transferred over," he said.

Meghan continued, "And finally in our conversations, these experts shared that how the vaccine is distributed, and who it's distributed to, should be left to independent international organisations who know exactly where the doses are most needed. Just think about the millions of vaccines that have been discarded this year. That's like throwing away life vests, when those around you are drowning."

Photo credit: Gotham - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gotham - Getty Images

The couple also shared a sweet moment during the serious speech, with the crowd cheering as Harry referred to Meghan as "my wife". They exchanged a brief embrace before he continued: "My wife and I believe that where you’re born should not dictate your ability to survive." They also stood hand-in-hand for the rest of the speech.

Photo credit: ANGELA WEISS - Getty Images
Photo credit: ANGELA WEISS - Getty Images

This year's Global Citizen Live event was a 24-hour, performance-packed broadcast staged at different locations around the world, with the aim of raising funds and awareness for vaccine equity across the globe. The Global Citizen Live campaign is also calling on G-7 countries and the European Union to immediately distribute one billion Covid-19 vaccines to the countries who need them most.

Prince Harry also spoke at Global Citizen's previous VAX Live: The Concert to Reunite the World event in Los Angeles last May.

"This pandemic will not end unless we act collectively with an unprecedented commitment to our shared humanity. The vaccine must be distributed to everyone, everywhere. We cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world," Harry said at the May event.

Watch the Sussexes' full Global Citizen Live speech below:

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