AMP in the post
Her urging comes in a video call with NHS officials in charge of the rollout. She said of her own shot, “didn’t hurt at all” and had made her “feel protected.” She compared Covid to a plague, and marveled at how the vaccine is helping, “so many people.”
The NHS has been working with community leaders and church groups to try alleviate fears and vaccine hesitancy with seminars and Q&A sessions.
Royal Family News – The Queen Urges Vaccination
It is a unique move for the queen to so publicly voice an opinion on a controversial matter such as this and in response an NHS vaccine chief said it was an, “incredibly important vote of confidence,” in the program.
Backing this up a senior royal source said, “It is a passionately held belief that people need to get out there [and get vaccinated] – this is important.”
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It’s been reported that more than 18 million Britons, roughly 30%, have had at least one shot. On Wednesday alone 448,962 doses were administered.
Despite the numbers officials remain concerned that ‘vaccine hesitancy’ could undermine the rollout and by extension hamper the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Royal Family News – The Queen Has An Urgent Message
Officials state that about 15% of the population will not get a shot, with the highest rates among the young and ethnic minority groups.
And so the Queen’s stance is seen as especially significant. She talked during a WebEx video call with the four ‘senior responsible officers’ leading the deployment of Covid-19 vaccination across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
AMP in the post
Royal Family News – Will The Country do as the Queen Says?
During the call, Emily Lawson, the lead on vaccine deployment for the NHS in England, told the monarch, “We hope everyone who is offered the vaccine will take it up, because it is our best chance to protect both the people who take up the vaccine, their families and their communities.”
The queen replied, it was selfish for people not to take the shot if offered one: “Once you’ve had the vaccine you have a feeling of, you know, you’re protected, which is I think very important. And I think the other thing is that it is obviously difficult for people if they’ve never had a vaccine … but they ought to think about other people rather than themselves.”
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I don't think it matters about protocol. If the Queen can encourage people, especially the elderly to protect themselves then it a good thing. We worry about our elderly people at the best of times, so during this time of crisis anything we can do for the elderly or compromised is crucial. Many elderly people will listen to the Queen who has served them throughout their lives so it is fitting she is leading by example.