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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Sandra Mallon

U2 frontman Bono spotted on Capitol Hill campaigning to ensure global access for Covid vaccines

U2 frontman Bono paid a visit to Capitol Hill to push lawmakers for global access to Covid vaccines.

The ‘One’ hitmaker arrived in Washington D.C. on Wednesday and spoke to US politicians about a global response to ensuring equal access to Covid-19 vaccines.

It comes ahead of the Dubliner receiving the Fulbright Prize for International Understanding for his "commitment to seek justice by fighting to end extreme poverty, tackle global health crises, and spur economic development in the poorest parts of the planet."

READ MORE: Arlene Foster slams 'Irishness' of St Patrick's Day as she hits out at the colour green, Joe Biden and Bono

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson was previously awarded the prize in 1999.

On Twitter, Fox News' congressional correspondent Chad Pergram shared an image of Bono with Senator Patrick Leahy, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noting that Bono was pushing "for distribution of the COVID vaccine around the world to underserved countries."

ONE, the global movement co-founded by Bono and other activists, have been advocating "to ensure every one of us has equal access to vaccines, no matter where in the world we live."

Several influential American politicians shared photos with the U2 frontman on social media.

"Great to see my friend Bono in Congress today as he continues his tireless advocacy for US leadership in Africa and across the developing world," wrote Democratic Senator Chris Coons. "I completely agree with him that we need to act now to pass an emergency COVID spending package with robust global assistance."

"It's a beautiful day to fight for an AIDS-free generation," stated Congresswoman Barbara Lee, sharing a selfie of herself with Bono.

'It's a beautiful day!' - Congresswoman Barbara Lee shares a selfie of herself with Bono. (Twitter/Rep Barbara Lee)

During his visit, Bono also spoke with the U.S. Capitol Police – with a clip of their conversation shared on the law enforcement agency's Twitter account.

"I haven't been back since January 6th," he told the group of Capitol Police officers. "You guys saved America, as far as I'm concerned, from so much awfulness on that day. I just want to say that people around the world really respect you."

His visit comes less than two weeks after the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, publicly read out a poem by Bono, marking St Patrick's Day, featuring the lines: "Ireland's sorrow and pain/ Is now the Ukraine/ And Saint Patrick's name is now Zelenskyy."

READ MORE: New Netflix drama set to tell the story behind U2’s early years as a band

READ MORE: Inside the Irish pub in Ukraine famous for a very unusual mural of Bono, Sinead O'Connor and George Best

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