Former US presidents, First Ladies promote vaccine in new advertisements

WASHINGTON: A group of former United States presidents and first ladies have come together in a pair of videos to encourage Americans to get their coronavirus vaccine shots.

All living former presidents and first ladies except for Donald and Melania Trump appear in a minute-long public service announcement showing them getting a shot of COVID-19 vaccine and talk about the importance of getting vaccinated.

Former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter appeared in the public service announcements (PSA) for the coronavirus vaccine alongside former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter.

“The science is clear. These vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease,” said President Bush in one of the PSAs with Obama and Clinton, urging Americans to get vaccinated. “That’s the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward,” said Obama.

“This vaccine means hope,” Barack Obama says in the video. “It will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease.” “In order to get rid of this pandemic, it’s important for our fellow citizens to get vaccinated,” George W. Bush says. “So roll up your sleeve and do your part.”

Watch former Presidents @BarackObama, @TheBushCenter, @BillClinton & @CarterCenter talk about the reasons they got vaccinated against COVID-19 in this historic PSA created in partnership with the @theCOVIDCollab—get the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines at https://t.co/t2SrUQgYKQ pic.twitter.com/Kc0Uv9rb8S

— adcouncil (@AdCouncil) March 11, 2021

In another 30-second video, Obama, Clinton and Bush speaking from outside Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January. The three ex-presidents all stress the importance of Americans getting vaccinated once they are eligible.

Noticeably absent in the vaccine PSAs, created by nonprofit the Ad Council, are former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump. During his run for re-election last year, Trump widely touted his administration’s role in bringing a vaccine to market.

The new ads are part of the Ad Council’s nationwide vaccine education campaign titled “It’s Up To You.” More than 300 partners are supporting the nonprofit in the effort to battle hesitancy about the vaccine’s safety and help convince more people to get the shot.

A second PSA features each of the presidents and First Ladies wearing masks and receiving a dose of the vaccine. “Now it’s up to you,” Carter says in the ad.

All of the former presidents and first ladies, including the Trumps, have been vaccinated along with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden. The intent of the PSAs is to instill confidence in Americans that vaccines are safe and effective.