Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage
PresidentJoe Bidenalong with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice PresidentKamala Harris,Prince HarryandMeghan Marklewill be showing up to a star-studded night for a great cause.
Their involvement is part of Global Citizen’s partnership with the White House’s “We Can Do This” initiative to increase public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures, such as mask wearing and social distancing.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Harry and Meghan will be serving as Campaign Chairs ofVAX Liveand will be delivering an important global message for vaccine equity, helping ensure equitable access to the vaccine during the event. The couple has also been leading a coordinated drive across the private sector to raise funds for the vaccine-sharing program COVAX.
VAX Livewill also include performances fromJennifer Lopez, H.E.R.,J Balvin,Eddie Vedderand theFoo Fighters.
“I’m honored to be hosting ‘VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World,’ " Gomez, 28, said in a statement. “This is a historic moment to encourage people around the world to take theCOVID-19vaccine when it becomes available to them, call on world leaders to share vaccine doses equitably and to bring people together for a night of music in a way that hasn’t felt possible in the past year. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Selena Gomez.Tibrina Hobson/Getty
At the event, Global Citizen will be making a plea to philanthropists and corporations to donate “dollars-for-doses” in order to vaccinate health workers around the world.
He added, “There is a light at the end of this tunnel, but getting vaccines to everyone, everywhere regardless of who they are or where they are from, is key to ensuring the end of this pandemic around the world. We must all unite to get back on track to eradicating extreme poverty.”
VAX Live will be pre-taped at SoFi stadium – a “large-scale vaccination site” – in Los Angeles with the support of the state of California, the L.A. County Health Department, the City of Los Angeles, the City of Inglewood and E. Stanley Kroenke, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park Developer and the Los Angeles Rams' owner and chairman.
SoFi stadium.Rich Fury/Getty
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“The State of California is thankful to Global Citizen for demonstrating what’s possible when we embrace getting vaccinated and encourage others to get immunized as well,” Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press release.
Newsom added, “Music and the arts have long brought us together to celebrate moments of hope and happiness. This concert is no exception to that. We are excited to showcase the best of California reopening in compliance with the best standards of health and safety.”
VAX Liveairs on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App starting at8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT, Fox starting at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, and YouTube on theGlobal Citizen channelwith an extended version on Saturday, May 8.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
