Queen’s ‘personal decision’ on vaccine discussed by expert

The Queen, 94, and husband Prince Philip, 99, had the first doses of their jabs on Saturday, according to a palace spokesperson. This was a rare medical announcement as the royals’ private health matters are usually kept quiet. But it is understood the Queen decided the information should be made public to prevent inaccuracies and further speculation.

Daily Express Royal Correspondent Richard Palmer questioned whether it was necessary for the palace to hesitate over the announcement as other royals around the world have been quick to share the news of getting a vaccine.

He wrote on Twitter: “It seems only Buckingham Palace made a fuss about private medical information unless I missed the debate elsewhere?

“At least the Queen here ultimately made a decision to go public in support of her ministers.”

Mr Palmer’s comments came after Jordan’s King Abdullah II was pictured being vaccinated alongside his son and Crown Prince Hussein and his uncle Prince Hassan.

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A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the weekend: “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have today received Covid-19 vaccinations.”

But there was no picture of the royal couple getting the jab and no further details were added.

It is also not known which vaccine the Queen and Duke were given but it is likely they will receive their second dose up to 12 weeks later.

A royal source said the injections were administered by a household doctor at Windsor Castle.

A royal source told the Mirror: “The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh received their Covid-19 vaccinations when they were made available to them on the NHS.

“They were clear from the offset on the announcement of the vaccination programme that they would wait their turn and be willing to accept any vaccine offered to them on the advice of their doctors.

“The Queen believes it is important for everyone to do their bit in defeating the virus.

“She chose to make it known she had accepted the vaccine and she will receive her second inoculation in the next 12 weeks.”

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Royal Editor for The Daily Mirror Russell Myers added the Queen may not share which vaccine type she will receive for her second jab either.

He said: “It could have been handled far better.

“Missed opportunity to squash so many crazed theories about covid.

“The decision to not publicise the second jab is to not reveal which one she had, so individuals don’t begin to request a certain one, ie: take the first available. “

Other key public figures have been photographed while being vaccinated.

US President-elect Joe Biden appeared on live television when he received a dose in December.

Last year, the Queen did not carry out engagements outside of one of her royal residences between March and October due to the pandemic.

Her eldest child, Prince Charles, contracted coronavirus and displayed mild symptoms last March.

Her grandson Prince William also reportedly tested positive in April, although Kensington Palace did not give an official comment.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is hoping to vaccinate 15 million people in the UK by mid-February.

This will include care home residents and staff, frontline NHS staff, everyone over 70 and those who have been categorised as clinically extremely vulnerable.

Last week, a third coronavirus vaccine made by US company Moderna was approved for use in the UK, joining the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines already approved by UK regulators.

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