Louise Roberts: Meghan Markle finds the wrong way to encourage vaccination

Meghan Markle’s taped sermon from the recent VaxLive concert she ran with husband Prince Harry might have meant more if she was vaccinated herself, writes Louise Roberts.

If you want to encourage vaccination, surely the most effective way is to roll up your sleeve and allow a nurse to inject you with a syringe.

And to be seen doing exactly that, not just lecturing or practising slacktivism on social media about how we are all in this pandemic together.

This basic two-step also applies to celebrities whatever their trademarked and eulogised Truth may be.

So, in her mission to be a global influencer on a more exalted level than the Kardashian business model of fillers and fashion, Meghan Markle missed a critical opportunity at the recent VaxLive gig.

Meghan Markle in her pre-recorded message for Vax Live. Picture: YouTube/Global Citizen

The music event had the star wattage, with the likes of JLo, ACDC’s Brian Johnson, the Foo Fighters and others on a high-profile push for coronavirus vaccines to be available equally around the world.

But why didn’t Meghan, as part of her self-appointed KPIs on dismantling lies and bias, simply tell the world when she was having her own COVID-19 vaccine and how important it was — to lead by example.

Or that she has already had the jab, quietly administered at a clinic near her Montecito mansion, a tiny circular plaster applied and without Gayle King or Oprah blabbing about it on TV.

And what about Harry — has he had the needle yet?

Prince Harry during the taping of the "Vax Live" fundraising concert in California. Picture: Valerie Macon/AFP

It was good enough for actor Michael Caine. Sir Michael Caine, who bared his arm and encouraged others to get their jab in an advert for Britain’s National Health Service.

He was photographed getting vaccinated and ventured that it didn’t hurt, quipping the inevitable “not a lot of people know that”, a phrase that follows him even though the late Peter Sellers said it.

And yes, the whole world is aware Meghan is pregnant in the third trimester and I wish her all the best for a safe, healthy delivery of her baby daughter.

But she could have the vaccine now — plenty of expectant mums have — or she could schedule it post-birth, yet there is deafening silence from her on this issue and I find it puzzling, if not hypocritical.

Instead, she pre-recorded a sermon from home to air her take on intersectional race theory to reinforce her position as victim and expert. A very familiar space for her to occupy as we know.

The former actress revealed that “my husband and I”, echoing a phrase we heard from the Queen for decades, were concerned that COVID-19 has wiped out a generation of progress for women of colour.

Sir Michael Caine and Sir Elton John have teamed up in a new NHS England campaign advert.

The two entertainment legends encourage #COVID19 vaccine uptake. 💉

More videos here: https://t.co/qXlpmkf5Ncpic.twitter.com/kWtr6yLQdY

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 10, 2021

“As campaign chairs of Vax Live, my husband and I believe it’s critical that our recovery prioritises the health, safety and success of everyone, but particularly women who have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic,” Meghan said.

“Women, and especially women of colour, have seen a generation of economic gain wiped out.”

Yes it has affected women of colour and other ethnicities too. It is also important to note that worldwide more men are dying from coronavirus than women, due to biology or lifestyle choices impacting their health.

Frontiers in Public Health, an international journal of peer-reviewed research, said men and women were equally likely to contract COVID-19 but men are “significantly more likely to suffer severe effects of the disease”. Or die, which they are doing at twice the rate of women in New York City, for example.

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.”

Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters performs onstage during Vax Live. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

So why not state it plainly and bereft of woke vocabulary: I want my children to be protected from this virus. I want my toddler son and unborn daughter to be protected from this virus. I want my husband to be protected from this virus. And so we’ll have the vaccine to give us the best possible shot.

Ahead of the concert held on May 8 but broadcast last weekend, the Sussexes wrote to the CEOs of Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and NovaVax urging them to share out the vaccines.

“The world owes you gratitude for leading the successful development and manufacturing of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19. This was achieved in record time, amidst a once-in-a-century global pandemic.

“It’s truly a testament to what can be achieved when partners work together towards a shared goal.”

Yes. Of vaccination, of using star power for good not merely as a platform to lecture and patronise. Money and mouth, reunited as it were.

Intriguingly, Harry’s own pre-recorded backstage message slammed the “politicisation” of the pandemic.

AC/DC’s Brian Johnson at the concert. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“I think the most worrying thing for me and my wife is science being politicised,” Harry said in the black and white snippet that was tweeted out.

“When we’re talking about life and death, which we’re talking about now, vaccines cannot be politicised.

“We must ensure that everyone around the world has equal access to the vaccine, otherwise none of this works.”

One can only assume that Megs didn’t get the memo on this. Politicising vaccines.

The power she holds is in giving some of her personal self in context.

Instead she trotted out the usual trope. It does beg the question: Have we actually heard everything Meghan Markle has to say?

Her bombshell interview with Oprah has vanished. We’ve all moved on but the damage to Harry’s family will never be repaired.

UK journalist Tom Bradbury revealing that Harry and William have been in a verbal stoush for at least 18 months is sad but, sadly, not surprising.

Meghan and Harry jackhammered a generational Royal chasm up that even their great grandchildren will be forced to navigate.

Perhaps the Human Headline has said everything except what really matters in this pandemic war — I’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine and so should you.