The nation got a taste Monday of a White House campaign reported by the New York Times to recruit social-media “influencers” to convince children from ages 12 to 18 to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
A video that prompted many vaccinated Americans to declare facetiously their wish to be “unvaccinated” after watching it featured White House press secretary Jen Psaki and cross-dressing Instagram star Benito Skinner as an over-the-top, flamboyant “Gen Z intern.”
On Tuesday, the Daily Wire reported a “confidential” email surfaced on social media, apparently approved by the White House team, that confirmed a New York Times report last week that “Village Marketing, an influencer marketing agency” was reaching out to social media influencers on behalf of the White House to reach teens. It’s described as “a broad, personality-driven campaign to confront an increasingly urgent challenge in the fight against the pandemic: vaccinating the youthful masses, who have the lowest inoculation rates of any eligible age group in the United States.”
The email that surfaced Tuesday asks the influencers to “do an intimate 1×1 Zoom call with Dr. Anthony Fauci” to promote teens getting the coronavirus vaccine.
“The goal is to have (redacted) ask questions on behalf of (redacted) community and educate young people around (sic) the vaccine as there is a massive need to grow awareness within the 12-25 age demo,” the email says.
“The White House team (and our team) agree that given (redacted) voice and influence within this crucial demo, (redacted) would be great for this special opportunity,” it continues.
The email opens with:
We have a highly sensitive (but pretty incredible) opportunity we’d love to discuss for (redacted). We have been working with Dr. Fauci and the White House (as featured on the front page of The New York Times, “To Fight Vaccine Lies, Authorities Recruit An ‘Influencer Army'”) and handpicking select influencers to do an intimate 1×1 Zoom call with Dr. Anthony Fauci.
NEW: I’ve obtained the *Confidential* White House PR email sent to TikTok influencers begging them to “do an intimate” zoom call with Dr. Fauci.
The goal is to influence children as young as 12.
How much did the White House pay for this cringe video? pic.twitter.com/OApHdHf5iR
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) August 10, 2021
Joe Biden’s America. pic.twitter.com/Srd4omUj5t
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) August 9, 2021
Politico reported Monday that several European countries, including the U.K. and Sweden, have expressed concern about children as young as 12 getting a COVID vaccine.
In the U.K. and Sweden, only children in the 12 to 15 category who are at risk of severe illness from coronavirus can get a shot.
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