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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speaks onstage during Global Citizen VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre\/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE)<\/p><\/div>\n
NEWSMAX<\/p>\n
President Joe Biden spoke about the COVID-19 vaccination being safe, Prince Harry urged for the vaccine distribution everywhere and Jennifer Lopez embraced her fully-vaccinated mother on stage during one of the largest concert gatherings in Southern California since the pandemic rocked the world more than a year ago.<\/p>\n
Celebrities and political leaders gathered Sunday night to talk about the importance of vaccine equity at Global Citizen\u2019s \u201cVax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World\u201d at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The taped fundraising event will air May 8 on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube and iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations.<\/p>\n
The concert included performances by Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R.<\/p>\n
Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Penn and David Letterman appeared as special guest speakers.<\/p>\n
Everyone in the audience was fully vaccinated. Media and production staff needed to show a negative COVID test before entering the stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vaccines are safe. I promise you. They work,\u201d said Biden, who was accompanied in a video message with first lady Jill Biden. Both appeared as part of the \u201cWe Can Do This\u201d initiative to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re working with leaders around the world to share more vaccines and boost production to make sure every country has the vaccines they need,\u201d the president continued. \u201cIf we get this done, we won\u2019t have to miss another moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event was part of a growing chorus seeking wider, more equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n
Global Citizen said $53.8 million in philanthropic and corporate commitments helped procure nearly 10.3 million doses, exceeding the goal for the Vax Live campaign.<\/p>\n
Prince Harry said providing vaccines across the globe is imperative, particularly those in the poorest countries. He said that he is standing solidarity with India, who is experiencing a \u201cdevastating\u201d second wave of the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vaccine must be distributed to everyone everywhere,\u201d the Duke of Sussex said. He along with his wife Meghan are leading an effort to raise money for the vaccine-sharing program COVAX, which hopes to produce $19 billion to pay for the vaccines for medical workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world,\u201d he said. \u201cThe virus does not respect borders and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event also highlighted first responders and health care workers efforts during the pandemic. Selena Gomez, the show\u2019s host, called essential and frontline workers \u201creliable\u201d and \u201cbrave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of us had to stay home, but you all didn\u2019t have a choice,\u201d the singer said. \u201cYou set an example for all of us, both in how you stayed on the job and that we need to get vaccinated as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each musical performance made things seem almost like normal with attendees standing at their seats side-by-side while others danced with their masks on. Some hugged each other with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
H.E.R. performed on a small stage outside the stadium with a group of people playing their guitars.<\/p>\n
Before Lopez\u2019s performance, she told the audience that she was unable to spend Christmas with her mother. The singer went on to invite her fully-vaccinated mom on stage, then the two sang their rendition of Neil Diamond\u2019s \u201cSweet Caroline.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was thinking about what song to sing tonight, I remembered the song she used to sing to me as a baby,\u201d said Lopez, who later performed her 2016 hit single \u201cAin\u2019t Your Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eddie Vedder said the concert was the first \u201ctaste of the life we\u2019ve all been missing\u201d for more than a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a feeling we have not had in some time,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a microphone, a crowd. It feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foo Fighters rocked on with AC\/DC frontman Brian Johnson during a performance of the rock anthem \u201cBack In Black.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ain\u2019t out the woods yet. But let me tell you, I\u2019m a firm believer and idea that music should be shared with people,\u201d Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl said. \u201cLet\u2019s work as hard as we can to make sure we can do this every night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hugh Evans, founder and CEO of Global Citizen, said he wants to keep the momentum going.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat were trying to highlight is the obvious that we should be fighting for equity,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that shouldn\u2019t require any arithmetic. It is absolutely bleeding obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
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