The City of Melbourne has launched a campaign encouraging Melburnians to get vaccinated, with vaccine hero advertisements set to roll out across the municipality starting with the iconic Young and Jacksons billboard.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said an increase in vaccination rates was essential to beat COVID-19, protect the most vulnerable, and put an end to lockdowns and restrictions.
“Around 15 per cent of Australia’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. After more than a year of restrictions, there is still no vaccination target on our horizon that will give Australians a finish line for the devastating lockdowns, state border closures and crippling uncertainty,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We need a coordinated national roll out and a dramatic increase in vaccination numbers to keep Melbourne open. Without this, there is little hope for our small business owners and workers who need our city to be open to earn a living.”
The Lord Mayor was joined by Moomba Monarch and infectious diseases physician Kirsty Buising to launch the campaign that calls on everyday people to get vaccinated.
Three everyday community heroes on the COVID-19 frontline were crowned as Moomba Monarchs at this year’s Moomba Festival.
“It was fitting for Kirsty to join us in launching this campaign, because as a Moomba Monarch she personifies the spirit of Melburnians responding to COVID-19 and represents the heroes working tirelessly to support our community,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Our vaccine hero campaign is about recognising that every single one of us has a role to play in ending this pandemic, not just those on the frontline.
“We’re in a race to make Melbourne the most vaccinated city in Australia and we’re calling on every Victorian who is eligible, to be a hero and roll up their sleeve for the sake of our great city.”
City Activation portfolio lead Councillor Roshena Campbell said Council is also investigating incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated as supplies increase, in order to keep the city open.
“The situation is simple – to keep enjoying Melbourne and travelling freely, we need more people vaccinated. As a council, we want to do everything we can to drive those numbers up,” Cr Campbell said.
“We want to give Melburnians an extra reason to get the jab, which is why we are looking at offering incentives. Getting vaccination rates up is the most important thing we can all do to keep Melbourne open.”
The iconic Young and Jacksons Hotel sky sign will display vaccination hero messages from Friday, adding to 800 other posters set to be installed across the municipality over the next four weeks.
