Trump only living former president not to appear in pro-vaccine advert

Clip urging Americans to get vaccinated features Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama

President Donald Trump is the only former living president not to appear in two national ad campaigns aimed at building public confidence in the coronavirus vaccine.

Two new clips feature stills of the “ex-president’s club” receiving their vaccines and audio of them urging other Americans to get their shot when the time comes.

Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama all appear in at least one of the two new ads, but the most recent former president is nowhere to be seen.

The first spot shows stills of all four former presidents and first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama receiving their vaccines in a one-minute clip.

“This vaccine means hope,” Mr Obama says in the advert. “It will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease.”

"In order to get rid of this pandemic, it’s important for our fellow citizens to get vaccinated," Mr Bush says, adding later: "So roll up your sleeve and do your part."

The former presidents also listed all the things they are looking forward to doing when restrictions are lifted, such as visiting family and attending baseball matches.

The second 30-second video features Mr Clinton, Mr Bush, and Mr Obama addressing the camera at Arlington cemetery on Joe Biden’s inauguration day, with a similar message of support for the shot.

"Right now, the Covid-19 vaccines are available to millions of Americans,” Mr Clinton says while Mr Obama adds, "And soon they will be available to everyone."

"We urge you to get vaccinated when it is available to you,” Mr Bush says.

"That’s the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward," Mr Obama adds. "It’s up to you."

Former President Mr Trump and former first lady Melania Trump are not featured in either advert and are the only living president and first lady to not participate.

The Independent has contacted the Trump organisation for comment.

Reports surfaced earlier this month that the Trumps received the Covid vaccine before leaving the White House in January without announcing publicly that they had received the shot.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump issued a new statement taking credit for the vaccine, saying that if it was not for him they would not be getting the “beautiful” vaccine shot “for five years.”

He said: “I hope everyone remembers when they’re getting the Covid-19 (often referred to as the China Virus) vaccine, that if I wasn’t president, you wouldn’t be getting that beautiful ‘shot’ for five years, at best, and probably wouldn’t be getting it at all. I hope everyone remembers.”

Mr Clinton, Mr Bush, and Mr Obama were quietly vaccinated weeks ago and offered the images for the campaign facilitated by the Ad Council, people familiar with the effort reportedly told NBC News.

Stills of their vaccinations were retained for the public service announcements, which are not affiliated with the Biden administration and were facilitated by the Ad Council and the Covid Collaborative, a partner of the Ad Council.

The Ad Council is a nonprofit organisation that produces, distributes, and promotes public service announcements on behalf of various sponsors. The Covid Collaborative is a team of leading experts in health, education, and the economy.

Skepticism and vaccine hesitancy has concerned health experts nationwide, with the Biden administration focusing its efforts on building faith in the vaccine among marginalised communities with a history of distrust in medicines.

The absence of Mr Trump in the adverts comes despite worrying statistics of hesitance among Republicans, with a Kaiser Family Foundation poll revealing this month that nearly one-third of all Republicans are opposed to receiving the vaccine.

Mr Trump has encouraged “everybody” to get vaccinated during his speech to a conservative conference but has also spent months downplaying the lethal side effects of the pandemic, which many believe will have a knock-on effect.

Over 95 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered across the US since the national vaccination rollout began in December, according to data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 29.2 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus in the country since the outbreak gripped the nation last year, leading to the deaths of over 529,000 people.