Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Rosalynn…
"Over the past year, thepandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on families all across the country and upended everyone's lives," said President Barack Obama. "Michelle and I got vaccinated against COVID-19 because we know it's the best way to get the country back up and running againand get us back to the moments we miss. We hope every American will do the same and get a vaccine as soon as it's available to them. It could save your life."
"Laura and I are grateful for the dedicated scientists and researchers who enabled safe and effective vaccines to be developed so quickly. As the country moves toward recovery and renewal, we look forward to seeing our families, friends, and even a baseball game. We hope everyone joins us in getting a vaccine when it's available to them," said President George W. Bush.
"America has always been at its best when we are looking out for one another and pulling together in common cause. Now, with the development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines,we have the chance to rise to the moment again," said President Bill Clinton. "I encourage every American to get vaccinated as soon as it becomes available to youand to feel confident, as Hillary and I did when we got ours, that it will protect you and your loved ones, and bring us all one step closer to ending this pandemic."
"Rosalynn and I are very happy to be vaccinated so, together with other public health measures, we can get back to church, see our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and eventually be active in our community again. I encourage everyone to get a vaccine when it's their turn," said President Jimmy Carter.
VIDEO: Former Presidents and COVID-19 Vaccine Facts | COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative | Ad Council
This project began in December 2020 and is being released as vaccines are becoming available to more Americans. The first of the PSAs, developed pro bono by creative agency Group SJR, aims to educate and empower Americans with information about the COVID-19 vaccines. In it, former Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and Carter discuss the moments they miss and are eager to get back to and features the First Ladies. The second PSA, developed pro bono by creative agency Pereira O'Dell, features Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton speaking about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, reminding Americans that the life-saving vaccines will protect individuals and those they love. In both PSAs, audiences are encouraged to visit GetVaccineAnswers.orgto get answers to the top questions Americans have about the COVID-19 vaccines.
"Today marks one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and, while there is a light at the end of the tunnel, there's a lot of work still to be done to help our country recover. We're grateful to Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton and Carter and the First Ladies for coming together in this historic moment to encourage Americans to get the most accurate information on the vaccines so they can make the right decisions for themselves and their families," said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council.
According to Ad Council research fielded by Ipsos in February, approximately 40% of the American public remain undecided about getting a COVID-19 vaccination. Of that undecided population, only 56% say they feel confident they have enough information to guide their decision about getting a COVID-19 vaccination, compared to 96% of those already committed. Whether or not a vaccine is available to them, a majority of those undecided (73%) still want information to address their questions now, underlining the need for an urgent mass education initiative.
"In this pandemic, we need every American to help so that all Americans can recover," said former Republican Governor Dirk Kempthorne and former Democratic Governor Deval Patrick, 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 PSAs are a part of one of the largest public education campaigns in U.S. history and will appear nationwide in time and space donated by the media across TV and digital media platforms beginning this week.
The launch of this content follows the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative's recent launch of the "It's Up To You" initiative, which includes creative assets developed by Pereira O'Dell, JOY Collective, iHeartMedia, Group SJR, Values Partnerships and other partners to ensure the American public has the latest and most accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Vetted by experts at CDC, HHS and COVID Collaborative, content at GetVaccineAnswers.orgis available in seven languages (English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Russian, Haitian Creole, and Vietnamese) and serves as an information hub to help consumers make an informed decision for themselves and their families about COVID-19 vaccination. Resources on the website will be continually updated as new information and data become available.
The Ad Council and COVID Collaborative have partnered to ensure public service messages reach deeply into local communities through trusted messengers and institutions. COVID Collaborative's dissemination network reaches millions of Americans through its many associations representing health, education and the economy and the diversity of the United States, supported by the Skoll Foundation, Allstate Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Macy Foundation, Pure Edge, and Walton Family Foundation.
To date, the Ad Council has raised over $52 million for the communications effort to help turn the tide of the pandemic and provide critical education surrounding COVID-19 vaccination. Leading contributors to date include Amazon, Apple, Bank of America, Cisco, CVS Health, Facebook, General Motors, Google and YouTube, the Humana Foundation, NBCUniversal/Comcast, Salesforce, Verizon, Walgreens and Walmart. Significant contributions have also been provided by Adobe, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, BNY Mellon, Business Roundtable, Citi, Ford Motor Company, Honeywell, JPMorgan Chase, the New York Life Foundation, Stanley Black & Decker, Synchrony, Target, Unilever, Wells Fargo and ViacomCBS.
Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, the Ad Council has mobilizedthe industry to launch an unprecedented, multi-pronged communications effort to combat COVID-19. To date, the Ad Council's COVID-19 response efforts have resulted in 47 billion impressions, $445 million in donated media value, and nearly 33 million visits to Coronavirus.gov.
The Ad Council
The Ad Council has a long history of creating life-saving public service communications in times of national crisis, starting in the organization's earliest days during World War II to September 11th and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. Its deep relationships with media outlets, the creative community, issue experts and government leaders make the organization uniquely poised to quickly distribute life-saving information to millions of Americans.
The Ad Council is where creativity and causes converge. The non-profit organization brings together the most creative minds in advertising, media, technology and marketing to address many of the nation's most important causes. The Ad Council has created many of the most iconic campaigns in advertising history. Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. Smokey Bear. Love Has No Labels.
The Ad Council's innovative social good campaigns raise awareness, inspire action and save lives. To learn more, visitAdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council's communities onFacebookandTwitter and view the creative onYouTube.
COVID Collaborative
COVID Collaborative is a national assembly of experts, leaders and institutions in health,education and the economy and associations representing the diversity of the country to turn the tide on the pandemic by supporting federal, state and local COVID-19 response efforts.
The COVID Collaborative is co-chaired by former Governor and U.S. Senator Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) and former Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) and led by CEO John Bridgeland and President Gary Edson. COVID Collaborative includes expertise from across Republican and Democratic administrations at the federal, state and local levels, including former FDA commissioners, CDC directors, and U.S. surgeon generals; former U.S. secretaries of Education, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services; leading public health experts and institutions that span the country; the Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers and U.S. Chamber of Commerce; the NAACP,UnidosUSand the National Congress of American Indians; the Skoll Foundation, Allstate Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation; and associations representing those on the front lines, from the American Public Health Association, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, andVaccinateYourFamily to the Council of Chief State School Officers, Chiefs for Change, and the Council of the Great City Schools.
SOURCE The Ad Council
- Obama warns donors that races are 'on the razor's edge' as he ramps up midterm push - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama, Praising Past White House Remodels, Takes Veiled Aim at Trump - The New York Times - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Sam Kass, former Obama family personal chef and policy adviser, wins the Julia Child Award - Chicago Tribune - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama raises more than $13 million for Democrats, urges voters to "turn hope into action" at ballot box in November - CBS News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama Foundation and Presidential Center employees are organizing with AFSCME - afscme - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Boston: The remarkable Bush-Obama friendship - Dallas News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Mike Ditka tributes pour in from President Trump, former President Obama, Chicago and the NFL - AP News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Former President Barack Obama endorses David Crowley in Wisconsin race for governor - News From The States - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama Foundation and Presidential Center workers to unionize: We don't even have a seat at the table - Chicago Sun-Times - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Trump says he could have done very bad things to Biden, Obama and Clinton - MS NOW - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- KFile: El-Sayed has history of knocking Obama & his failures - CNN - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Trump: I could have done bad things to Hillary Clinton, Biden, Obama - The Hill - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- At the Races: Unleash Obama - Roll Call - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Democrats see hope with Obama on the campaign trail - Denver Gazette - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Obama endorses Crowley for Wisconsin governor - The Daily Cardinal - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama lowers boom on Trump over White House renovations - SILive.com - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Trump says he rejected investigating Biden, Obama out of 'respect' for office - USA Today - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama: Care For This Country as We Would Our Own Children - East Wing Magazine - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- NEWS OF THE WEEK: Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate 34 years wed - Yahoo - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- El-Sayed Has Trump Fuming, AOC Buzzing and Obama Stumping - WSJ - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Former Obama advisor tells divided Maine Democrats to 'get over your s---' and win the race - Fox News - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Abdul El-Sayed Criticized Obama for Years. Now Theyre Campaigning Together - National Review - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Steps Out in Monochromatic Look That Puts a Twist on Her Signature Style - InStyle - October 10th, 2026 [October 10th, 2026]
- Barack Obama is in Massachusetts today. Here's why - NBC Boston - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WDBJ7 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama Visits KC, First Day of Fall - Flatland KC - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - FOX5 Vegas - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Obama Presidential Center - Chicago Maroon - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WTHI-TV - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WJHG - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - ABC7 WWSB - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - Valley News Live - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WTOC - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - wvlt.tv - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WBKO - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KY3 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KTRE - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WLFI - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WNEM - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WBTV - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KBTX News 3 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - wtvm.com - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WCJB - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - FOX19 | Cincinnati - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KWCH - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WFSB - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - Cleveland 19 News - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WKYT - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KNOE - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - Upper Michigan's Source - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WRDW - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - CBS7 - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KGNS - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KMVT - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - hometownstations.com - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - KXII - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama says the government should act fast and regulate AI - WMBF - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Hundreds gather to hear Obama speak at Salem State speaking event - Salem News - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- St. Petes Obama Main Library receives honor for renovation - Tampa Bay Times - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- 'Sit this one out': Piers Morgan says Obama a hypocrite for criticizing Trump press ban | RISING - The Hill - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama Agrees With The CEOs: Now is the time for the AI Slowdown - PCMag - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama to the Max (N/A) by Peter Max - Artsy - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama glosses over his own attempt to block media from White House as he slams Trumps CNN ban - New York Post - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama criticizes Trump on approach to AI, escalates warning for stronger regulation - Fox News - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama on Agentic AI: The Technology Race, Commercial Pressure, and Regulation - . . - September 22nd, 2026 [September 22nd, 2026]
- Obama on AI: Government has to be regulating this | CNN Politics - CNN - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Obama warns bad humans could weaponize AI, calls for regulation at Colgate appearance - Syracuse.com - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- CEO of Kraft Heinz responds to Obama's take on ketchup - NBC News - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Is Bringing This Trending Shoe Into Fall, and It Makes Any Outfit Look More Expensive - instyle.com - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Eighteen students selected as 2026-27 University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars - University of Chicago News - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Obama on AI: Government has to be regulating this - WKYC - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama will be in Fort Worth in celebration of Opal Lee. How you can get tickets to see the former first lady - CBS News - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Michelle and Barack Obama Announce the Death of Beloved Dog and Former White House Resident Sunny - people.com - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Obama Bashes Trump for Not Pushing Serious Regulatory Framework on AI: Thats Not How We Treat Airlines or Drug Companies! - Yahoo - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Malia Obama Shows Off Her Cool-Girl Style in Cut-Off Shorts and Divisive Shoes During Rare Outing - instyle.com - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Trump rescinds Obama-era order that overhauled Chesapeake Bay cleanup - The Baltimore Banner - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- "Still fiery and gorgeous till the very end of her days. Former President Barack Obama shared that his pet dog Sunny, who joined the family... - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- What Were Reading: Michelle Obama is coming to Fort Worth, NBC4 helicopter crash report and more. - TCU 360 - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama to visit Texas to honor Grandmother of Juneteenth Opal Lee - Houston Chronicle - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Barack and Michelle Obama mourn death of cherished family dog Sunny: We will miss her terribly - ew.com - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]