Sir Elton John and Sir Michael Caine have joined forces in a new
video to encourage people to get vaccinated against coronavirus.
Showbusiness giants, who are both in their 70s and 80s have
been vaccinated by the NHS, recorded the comic 90 second clip to
show others that getting the life-saving jab is easy and
safe.
More than 10 million people in England have already been
vaccinated and the NHS is now asking anyone aged 70 or over who
has not yet been vaccinated to come forward to be
protected.
The new film to promote the jab was organised by Lord Ara
Darzi who leads Imperial REACT COVID Surveillance Study Group, a
friend to the two stars, and shot at Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital.
Sir Elton John said: “I wanted to take
part in this film to help show people the benefits of getting
vaccinated and how it helps protect ourselves and the people we
love.
“So, I hope we can all come together and do our bit in the
fight against this wretched disease.”
The film shows Sir Elton, 73, ‘auditioning’ for an advert
promoting the jab.
The singer says: “The more people in society who get
vaccinated, the more chance there is of eradicating the national
Covid pandemic
“It’s really important to know that the vaccines have all
been through and met the necessary safety and quality
standards.”
Sir Elton then pretends to get the jab before bursting in
to his 1983 hit I’m Still Standing.
The unimpressed ‘director’ tells him “thanks Elton we will
let you know” to which he replies: “Well at this short notice you
won’t find anyone bigger”.
The film then cuts to Sir Michael, 87, who says that the
vaccine “didn’t hurt”, adding his famous catch phrase: “Not many
people know that.”
Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS
said: “Well over nine out of ten people aged 75 and over
have already taken up the offer of their NHS Covid vaccination,
and now we want to encourage everyone in the high priority groups
to do so.
“That’s why we’re grateful to Sir Elton and Sir Michael for
helping the NHS promote vaccine uptake, building on the fast and
efficient programme to date, which has seen the NHS already
vaccinate 1 in 4 adults across England.”
Professor Lord Ara Darzi, co-director of the Institute of
Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London and Consultant
Surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, also thanked
the stars for giving up their time.
Lord Darzi said: “I am really pleased that
Elton and Michael were keen to do this video, to show how quick
and easy it is to get vaccinated and why it's so
important.
“They recognise that the vaccines approved by the medical
regulator are safe and effective and the more people who have
them, the sooner we will curb the pandemic and get the country,
and the world, back to normal. I am very grateful to both of them
for their generous participation and thanks also should be given
to the brilliant writer Stephen Pipe and Producer, Clare Gibson
who both generously gave their time to this.”
The NHS is delivering Covid vaccinations at more than 1,500
sites across the country and is on track to have offered a jab to
everyone in the top four highest priority groups by the middle of
this month.
Most people need to wait to be contacted by the NHS when it
is their turn to receive it.
However, people aged 70 or over who have not yet been
vaccinated can now arrange a vaccination is through national
booking service which can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination
without first being contacted.
The system allows patients to choose a time slot and
location that suits them.Anyone unable to book online can call
119 free of charge,
anytime between 7am and
11pm seven days a week. If a suitable slot is not available
people can also contact their GP practice direct.
Those who have received a letter asking them to shield
because they are clinically extremely vulnerable should be
contacted by their local family doctor.
NHS England is supporting general practice with an extra
£10 for every vaccination given to someone who is
housebound.
Health and social care workers, who are also among the top
four priority groups for vaccination, should speak to their
employer about arranging their vaccine.
The NHS made history when Maggie Keenan became the first
person in the world to be protected against coronavirus, outside
of a clinical trial, when she received the Pfizer vaccine at
Coventry Hospital on the 8 December 2020.
The NHS was also the first health system to deliver the new
Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine when Brian Pinker, 82, was
jabbed on January 4 2021.
