Prince Charles is not going to shun a COVID-19 vaccination, but despite his status as the future King of the United Kingdom, he told a nurse that he's "way down the list" of priorities of the first rollout.
The Prince of Wales visited the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, on Thursday to check on the vaccination program. While talking to the medical staff, Prince Charles told the workers that he is going to "wait his turn" at receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
At 72 years old, a fit man like Prince Charles won't get the jab until after the residents and workers in home care, the frontline health and social workers, those above 80 years old, those above 75 years old, and those above 70 years old with vulnerable medical conditions.
The Prince of Wales said that he had developed COVID-19 antibodies to keep him protected while he's unvaccinated. The Queen's eldest son contracted the virus in late March after several royal engagements.
The royal said that he'd rather wait for AstraZeneca, the vaccine developed by British experts at Oxford University. The Gloucestershire medical workers received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines from the Trust, which will be administered to 1,300 healthcare workers and those in the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
One staff nurse told Sky News that Prince Charles expressed his concern over the disproportionate numbers of COVID-19 patients among people of color hence he's pushing for their vaccination as soon as possible. The nurse said that Prince Charles' acknowledgment was greatly appreciated and that his visit with Camilla boosted the morale of the medical staff.
Prince Charles also shared that he's not going to stay silent about getting the vaccine even if it's a personal choice. According to New Idea, the old guards at Buckingham Palace are against the royals discussing their medical procedures.
But the Prince of Wales said, rather candidly, that he cannot speak about his mother's vaccination. Reports have come to light that Queen Elizabeth, 94, will receive a Pfizer jab in the next few weeks, and Her Majesty has been urged to inform the public. If the Queen confirms she got the vaccination, then it could help shut down any misinformation from conspiracy theorists doubtful of the vaccine's safety.
Prince Charles and Camilla last visited the Gloucestershire in June, which was their first in-person engagement after months of isolation. As with the last visit, the royals both work a mask and added protective glasses.
