MUCH of both 2020 and 2021 has been marred by the ongoing global health crisis sparked by the coronavirus, though with multiple vaccinations in circulation there is hope that the countries most badly impacted can start to begin their road to recovery.
As part of a campaign to raise awareness for the COVID-19 vaccine and to encourage others to get the jab, Global Citizen is announcing VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World, a global broadcast and streaming special.
When is Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World?
The concert is set to take place on Saturday, May 8 at 8:00pm US time.
For British fans who wish to tune in, it will be a case of a very early start, with proceedings kicking off at 4:00am the following day (Sunday, May 9) UK time.
The concert will be held at the SoFi stadium, usually home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL.
The venue is actually owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke, the controversial owner of Arsenal F.C. who recently made headlines for his part to play in the widely criticised European Super League proposals.
What is Vax Live about?
Vax Live aims to ensure equitable vaccine distribution around the world while also tackling COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and misinformation spread about the side-effects of any of the vaccines currently in circulation.
Global Citizen, the company behind the concert, have said: “VAX LIVE aims to increase donations and sharing of vaccine doses to priority populations around the world.
“It will urge philanthropists and corporations to donate enough ‘dollars-for-doses’ to vaccinate the 27 million health workers, on the global front lines in the poorest countries every day, who still need access to vaccines.
“We’ll be calling on governments to pledge the additional $19 billion the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator needs to get 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses — as well as tests and treatments — to the world’s poorest countries by the end of 2021.”
Who is hosting Vax Live?
The event will be hosted by pop star and actress Selena Gomez, who has said: “I’m honoured to be hosting VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World, This is a historic moment to encourage people around the world to take the COVID-19 vaccine 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.”
The event will also include performances from a number of big names from all sections of the entertainment industry, such as Foo Fighters and Jimmy Kimmel.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will also make appearances.
The concert will also see the President of the United States in attendance, with Joe Biden set to appear, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will also be there.
The couple have said: “We will all benefit, we will all be safer, when everyone, everywhere has equal access to the vaccine.
“We must pursue equitable vaccine distribution and, in that, restore faith in our common humanity. The mission couldn’t be more critical or important.”
How can I watch Vax Live?
With the concert taking place in the States, the broadcast will air on Saturday, May 8, at 8:00 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on ABC, CBS, YouTube, and iHeart broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App.
As of yet, no television network in the UK has opted to buy the rights to cover the concert, but fear not – it will still be available to watch live on YouTube.
