If you’ve ever tried to convince someone to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, chances are you’ve been met with the common rhetoric that due to the incredibly rare side effect of blood clots, some people are rather afraid of getting the jab.
Thankfully, Instagram page @thefactsination has created a handy set of infographics that they like to call ‘The A-Z of Things More Likely to Kill You Than AZ’, which showcases just how rare it is for someone to actually die from the AZ jab.
By comparing AZ death statistics with the chances of death during things like walking down the street, eating a hamburger and having a quickie, @thefactsination hopes that people will share these colourful comics and encourage folks to get their shot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSTWpVJB7Gh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pedestrian.TV had a cheeky little chat with one of the folks behind the page, Dan Monheit, to suss out why they felt the need to make a set of infographics like this.
“We’ve had enough of sitting on our hands and watching our beautiful country go through rolling lockdowns, with all of the damage it brings with it to mental health, education and business,” he said.
“We know our path out of here is through vaccination, and that as an industry, we specialise in communication and behaviour change. What better way to channel our frustration and creativity than through an initiative like this?
“By creating the graphics, we’re helping to put the risks into perspective and encouraging more people to get the jab, so we can protect ourselves, our loved ones and our livelihoods.”
Infographic statistics come from a variety of sources, such as this hilarious lawnmower comic, which uses stats from a Business Insider article.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSTU2xOhRTl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Or this infographic on death via pups, which comes from a TitleMax chart on the likeliness of death from different activities.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSTUezWhxo2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“As a proactive, pro bono campaign, there’s no media budget behind the content so we’re relying on the power of people and social media,” Monheit said.
“In the first few hours, the content was shared hundreds of times and has subsequently been picked up by trade press… as well as celebrities including Dr Norman Swan, Zoe Foster Blake and Jules Lund.”
Despite the celebrity interactions with the page, the message here is clear. There’s no need to be afraid of the jab, and if these comics make you feel more comfortable about AZ, then mission accomplished!
“If you agree with the sentiment and would like to accelerate our collective journey out of this mess, please share the content far and wide. And of course, if your doctor says it’s OK, please go and get vaccinated today!”
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Click here to see which clinics are offering it, and talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
