Victoria’s peak social welfare body and the state’s performing arts community have released ads encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Victorian Council of Social Service on Monday launched their ad, entitled ‘Back to the Good Things’, which features real people sharing what they look forward to once widespread vaccination is achieved.
Among those featured is a health worker who says she looks forward to not worrying about her patients dying from COVID-19, a woman who can’t wait for her wedding and to be reunited with friends and family overseas and a musician excited to perform to large crowds.
The 50-second advertisement is captioned in nine languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Italian and Vietnamese and VCOSS has waived copyright, meaning any media organisation, website, publisher, business or individual can use it.
While VCOSS can’t increase vaccine supply, its chief executive Emma King says the body can help get people into vaccination centres.
“We all want to get back to the good things. So we must all play our part encouraging people to get vaccinated,” Ms King said in a statement.
On the same day, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has launched its ‘Performance of a Lifetime’ campaign.
Featuring performers such as Rhonda Burchmore, Deborah Cheetham and Tim Minchin, as well as artists from the Australian Ballet, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Theatre Company, the ad encourages people to join the “ensemble effort” to get vaccinated.
“Let’s give COVID its final curtain call,” artist and academic Priya Srinivasan says.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson praised the performing arts community for its leadership.
“This campaign is a clever and creative way of encouraging audiences to play their role and get vaccinated,” he said in a statement.
“If you can get vaccinated, please book in or visit a hub – the sooner we get vaccinated, the sooner we can get back to doing the things we love.”
The video also includes Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi and Vietnamese captions.
The ads come after the federal government last week released a new COVID-19 awareness TV advertisement, depicting a young woman with the virus struggling to breathe.
She makes eye contact with the camera and gasps for air as a message reads: “COVID-19 can affect anyone. Stay home. Get tested. Book your vaccination”.
The ad was broadcast in Sydney, which is battling an outbreak of the Delta strain of the coronavirus.
The Commonwealth has also released a print ad, showing a parade of arms bearing Band-Aids after vaccination with the tagline: “Arm yourself against COVID-19.”
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton praised the ads for their positive and motivational tone.
“I don’t think we need to push people to vaccinate, there’s a lot of people who are ready to step up, but something that frames it in a way that makes people see exactly the world that we’re trying to move to is a good thing,” he said.
Australian Associated Press