Washington (CNN) – All living former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and their respective former first ladies — with the exception of the Trumps — are part of a newly released ad campaign urging Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine when it is their turn, a push that is aimed squarely at combating vaccine skepticism.
The ad campaign reunites almost every member of the so-called President’s Club, the group of living former commanders in chief. Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump are not featured in the ad, the only living president and first lady to not participate. CNN has previously reported that both received the coronavirus vaccine in January at the White House but did not publicize the fact until weeks after they had left Washington. On Wednesday, before the ad was published, Trump put out a statement claiming credit for the vaccine, but he was not included in the ad promoting it to the American people.
The ad is being released at a critical time in the fight against the coronavirus and one year after the outbreak was first declared a pandemic.
With vaccines becoming more widely available in cities and states across the country, those in charge of getting vaccines in the arms of Americans are eager to use the influence of people such as the former presidents to push people to get their shots. Vaccine hesitancy remains an issue, even as the number of people hesitant to get the vaccine has been dropping rapidly.
It features Clinton, Bush and Obama standing together at Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. The three were there on January 20 for a ceremony during President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The ad is framed like an address by the three former presidents to the American people, with Bush beginning the ad by saying, “Our fellow Americans,” before Clinton says, “Right now, the Covid-19 vaccines are available to millions of Americans” and Obama adds, “And soon they will be available to everyone.”
“The science is clear, these vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease,” Bush says. “So, we urge you to get vaccinated when it is available to you.”
“That’s the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward,” Obama says. “It’s up to you.”
The ad is part of a collaboration between the Covid Collaborative project and the Ad Council, a nonprofit organization the produces and promotes public service announcements. The council said the project with the four former presidents and first ladies began in December 2020 and are being released on Thursday because vaccines are becoming more widely available.
“In this pandemic, we need every American to help so that all Americans can recover,” said former Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho and former Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, the co-Chairs of the COVID Collaborative. “These former Presidents and First Ladies have come together to show that each of us, regardless of political party, has a stake in beating this virus.”
The Ad Council said the ad would appear nationwide during time and space donated to them by a range of television and digital platforms. They will begin airing this week.
In statements provided to CNN, each former president urged Americans to get vaccinated.
“Over the past year, the pandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on families all across the country and upended everyone’s lives,” Obama said, noting he and Michelle got vaccinated “because we know it’s the best way to get the country back up and running again.”
Bush said he and Laura “are grateful for the dedicated scientists and researchers who enabled safe and effective vaccines to be developed so quickly” and urged Americans to get the vaccine.
