Last week, we reported on a public service campaign the Ad Council launched to encourage people to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The two spots included some heavy hitters—the Obamas, Clintons, Bushes and Carters.
Not to be outdone, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and insurer Centene Corp. recruited their own group of influencers to boost public confidence in the vaccines, especially in communities of color.
Among the Hall of Famers shooting public service announcements were Anthony Munoz, who recorded in both English and Spanish; Darrell Green; Aeneas Williams and Drew Pearson; as well as Lisa Salters, a Hall of Fame selector and TV broadcaster.
The catch phrase of the campaign is “Count on You,” with each of the retired NFL stars talking about the importance of protecting not just yourself, but the people around you. Green, who spent his 20-year career playing in Washington, D.C., says his family—his wife of 36 years and 20 kids and grandkids—are counting on him. “Making sure I don’t let them down is important to me,” he says.
Roughly 6.7% of people who were fully vaccinated as of mid-March were Black and 7.2% were Hispanic, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Through this campaign, we want to empower people to actively contribute to their health and well-being by informing them about the benefits of the vaccine,” said Dr. Ken Yamaguchi, chief medical officer for Centene.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is Centene’s Official Youth Wellness Partner.