Yesterday, Selena Gomez, Prince Harry, Jennifer Lopez, and more stars pre-taped Global Citizen's Vax Live: The Concert To Reunite The World special that will air next weekend. But Meghan Markle, a co-chair with Harry for the event, wasn't photographed or seen there in person with them.
Why wasn't she around? It's likely the same reason Meghan didn't attend Prince Philip's funeral in England last month: The Duchess of Sussex is very pregnant with her and Harry's second child, and there's still an ongoing pandemic, making group gatherings—even television productions like this one where there is COVID testing and likely many vaccinated participants—not entirely risk-free.
Meghan and Harry have not revealed whether or not have gotten vaccinated yet. But they only became eligible on April 15 in California, so it could be that they are not fully vaccinated yet because of the wait time between doses one and two of the Pfizer and Moderna shots (17-25 days for Pfizer or 24-32 days for Moderna). After they receive both doses, they have to wait another two weeks before they have full protection.
It is safe, by the way, for those pregnant, like Meghan, to get a COVID-19 vaccine if they choose, according to the CDC.
Meghan and Harry also haven't publicly revealed Meghan's exact due date, saying only that the Duchess is due this summer. Page Six reported that Meghan is set to go on maternity leave in late May, but the couple did not confirm that timeframe.
Still, Meghan will be involved in the special. The Duchess is understood to be appearing in a pre-taped segment that will air during the broadcast. The special airs next Saturday, May 8.
Harry, by the way, made a passionate speech calling for leaders to help get as many people globally vaccinated as possible during the taping. He said, per People:
We're also coming together because this pandemic cannot end unless we act collectively with an unprecedented commitment to our shared humanity. The vaccine must be distributed to everyone everywhere. We cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world. The mission in front of us is one we cannot afford to fail out and that's what tonight is about. The virus does not respect borders and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography. It must be accepted as a basic right for all and that is our starting point.
None of us should be comfortable thinking that we could be fine when so many others are suffering. In reality, and especially with this pandemic, when any suffer, we all suffer. We must look beyond ourselves with empathy and compassion for those we know, and those we don't. We need to lift up all of humanity and make sure that no person or community is left behind. What we do in this moment will stand in history and tonight, we stand in solidarity with the millions of families across India who are battling a devastating second wave.
From: ELLE US
