Covid: Prince Harry blames 'mass-scale misinformation' for vaccine hesitancy

Prince Harry blamed "mass-scale misinformation" for Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy during a speech at an awards ceremony.

The Duke of Sussex made a surprise virtual appearance at the GQ Men of the Year awards - where Piers Morgan was also in attendance on the same day he was cleared by Ofcom for remarks he made on Good Morning Britain about the Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry presented a prize to Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, Professor Catherine Green and the team behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and urged governments to do more to vaccinate poorer nations.

He said that “until every community can access the vaccine and until every community is connected to trustworthy information about the vaccine, then we are all at risk”.

Piers Morgan was also in attendance at the GQ event.
Jonathan Brady

The duke said people were being “overwhelmed by mass-scale misinformation,” leading to hesitancy over the jab. “As people sit in the room with you tonight, more than a third of the global population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. That’s more than five billion shots given around the world so far,” he said.

“It sounds like a major accomplishment and in many ways it is, but there is a huge disparity between who can and cannot access the vaccine.

“Less than 2% of people in the developing world have received a single dose at this point. And many of the healthcare workers are still not vaccinated.

“We cannot move forward together unless we address this imbalance as one. At the same time, families around the world are being overwhelmed by mass-scale misinformation across news media and social media, where those who peddle in lies and fear are creating vaccine hesitancy, which in turn leads to divided communities and eroding trust.

“This is a system we need to break if we are to overcome Covid-19 and the risk of new variants.” Harry hailed the team behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, who received the heroes of the year award, as “heroes of the highest order” who “have done their part”.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in this undated handout photo. Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Handout .

“They are our nation’s pride and we are deeply indebted to their service. For the rest of us, including global governments, pharmaceutical leaders and heads of business, we have to keep doing our part,” he said.

“That must include sharing vaccine science and supporting and empowering developing countries with more flexibility. Where you are born should not affect your ability to survive when the drugs and know-how exist to keep you alive and well.”

Elsewhere at the star-studded awards ceremony, held at London’s Tate Modern, singer Ed Sheeran, actor Rege-Jean Page and England manager Gareth Southgate were also honoured. Line Of Duty star Adrian Dunbar was named television actor of the year and thanked the BBC, the show’s creator Jed Mercurio and his co-stars and “best mates” Vicky McClure and Martin Compston.

Journalist and television presenter Piers Morgan also attended after broadcasting watchdog Ofcom earlier announced he did not breach the broadcasting code with his comments on Good Morning Britain about the Duchess of Sussex. Radio DJs Clara Amfo and Nick Grimshaw, former footballer Gary Lineker and Love Island host Laura Whitmore were also present.