Victoria Bitter is encouraging Australians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with an ad that plays on the words of its iconic 53-year-old anthem.

The new ad has the iconic images and music from the anthem, but with new words: “Right now you can’t get it goalin’, you can’t get it bowlin’. You can’t get it takin’ a vow, or chasin’ a cow.

“A hard earned thirst comes from being all over town. Not from being in lockdown.

“So if you’d like to get back to leading a band, or lending a hand, roll up your sleeves, and get the jab. Matter of fact, I got mine now.”

VB’s Head of Marketing Brian Phan said the campaign encouraged Australians to get vaccinated so people across the country can return to work and re-unite with family and friends.

“This will support hospitality and business more broadly by encouraging Aussies to get the jab so we can re-open all of Australia’s pubs, clubs, construction sites, offices, shops and everywhere else you earn a hard earned thirst,” he said.

“VB has been celebrating ‘taking a vow’, ‘chasing a cow’ and ‘leading a band’ for more than half a century. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has taken nearly all of these activities away from us. And let’s be honest, you can’t really earn one sitting on the couch or doing a puzzle. It’s a serious issue, but our Aussie sense of humour is still important during a pandemic.”

The Australian Hotels Association is supporting the campaign. Chief Executive Stephen Ferguson said: “We have all missed the social things in life like gathering with mates at the pub for a beer. The sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner we can get all get back to living.”

Clubs Australia CEO Josh Landis added: “Your local club can’t wait to swing open the doors and start serving fully vaccinated patrons. It is so important for us all to get the jab so that we can enjoy an ice-cold VB at our favourite venues once again.”

Listen to the new anthem below:

NSW AHA launches vaccination campaign

The Australian Hotels Association NSW has also launched a social media campaign urging people to get their COVID-19 vaccinaction so pubs can reopen.

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said: “The Premier has set the 70 per cent benchmark for a range of freedoms – on current vaccination rates we’ll hopefully reach that in the next six weeks.

“This social media campaign is to encourage our staff and patrons to get the jab as soon as they can. The government has been clear there will only be freedoms for those who have been double vaccinated.

“We’ve all had enough of living like this. If you want to get down to the pub when we re-open, get vaccinated now. You’ll need two jabs and you don’t want to be left out when things finally open up.”

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