4 Former Presidents, First Ladies Urge Americans to Get Vaccinated

Four former United States presidents and first ladies urge their fellow Americans to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Ad Council’s latest public service initiative.

Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter appear along with Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter in a minute-long spot that launched today:

Interviewed separately by Group SJR, POTUSes 39, 42, 43 and 44 use the PSA bully pulpit to preach in relatable terms, discussing what they plan to do now that they’ve been vaccinated.

“I want to visit with Michelle’s mom,” Obama says, “to hug her and see her on her birthday.”

“What I’m really looking forward to is going to opening day in Texas Rangers stadium with a full stadium,” says Bush, a former owner of the MLB team.

“I want to work, and I want to be able to move around,” Clinton says, later adding, “We’ve lost significant people, and we’ve suffered enough damage.”

We see Carter in still photos, sporting a bad-ass cap and staring intensely into the camera as he receives his shot.

“I’m getting vaccinated because we want to end this pandemic as soon as possible,” he says in a soft, resolute soundbite, as if marshaling the wisdom of his 96 years to convince viewers to take heed. Who could say no to that famously toothy face?

Hey, wait, isn’t a former first couple missing here?

Moving right along, in a :30 from Pereira O’Dell, Obama, Bush and Clinton deliver a message taped on Capitol Hill at Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration:

Policies and politics aside, the spots carry a special gravitas given the commanding presence and sincere, humble words of these former world leaders.

The work falls under the Ad Council’s “It’s Up to You” banner, touted as one of the largest public educational campaigns ever, backed by $500 million in donated media and talent across TV and digital platforms. The series encourages Americans to seek out information from reliable sources and get vaccinated as soon as they can. At present, about 10 percent of the population is fully protected, and experts say life can return to some semblance of pre-virus normality around the 75 percent mark.

Earlier this week, the Ad Council, Pereira O’Dell and Alma released a separate PSA in English and Spanish. Designed to resonate with the Hispanic community, the ad, shown below, draws on recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidance that says fully vaccinated grandparents can safely visit with their grandchildren: