Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George preparing special Christmas puddings. File/Reuters

Gulf Today Report

Prince William is encouraging everyone in Britain to follow the example of Queen Elizabeth II, his grandmother, in being inoculated against COVID-19 as authorities battle unsubstantiated fears about vaccine safety.

Speaking in a video call with NHS staff and volunteers on Saturday, the Duke of Cambridge said: “My grandparents have had the vaccine and I am very proud of them for doing that. It is really important that everyone gets the vaccine when they are told to.”

Last week the Queen, 94, disclosed that she and Prince Philip, 99, had received the first dose of the vaccine at Windsor Castle, where they are spending lockdown together, according to the Independent. 

READ MORE

Britain tightens borders to keep out new coronavirus variants

Global coronavirus death toll passes 2 million

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip receive COVID-19 vaccine

The palace, which rarely comments on private health issues regarding the royal family, has also said that the vaccinations were administered by a royal household doctor.

It is understood that the Queen wanted to publicly announce she and Prince Philip had been vaccinated against the virus in order to prevent speculation and misinformation.

However authorities say they are still battling unsubstantial fears against the vaccine.

Dr Nikki Kanani, a GP in London and medical director of Primary Care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, told Prince William: “We do have vaccine hesitancy in some groups.

"It is really important to get into communities, ethnically diverse communities, and more deprived communities to say ‘this is your vaccine as well, it’s for everyone.’ Getting that uptake is really important.”

The vaccine rollout, which is the largest in British history, has so far administered more than three million vaccine doses across the UK to the most vulnerable and those who care for them.

As part of the initiative hundreds of vaccination sites and hospital hubs have been established across the UK.