White House Forms ‘Influencer Army’ to Convince Young People to Get Vaccinated

A recent report from the New York Times states that the federal government is using an “influencer army” to promote pro-vaccine campaigns aimed at America’s youth.

The New York Times reports in an article titled “To Fight Vaccine Lies, Authorities Recruit an ‘Influencer Army,’” that the White House has recruited popular TikTok stars to promote its pro-vaccine campaign. Some local states have reportedly begun paying “local micro influencers” to take part in similar initiatives.

The NYT reports that according to the CDC, less than half of all Americans aged between 18 and 39 are fully vaccinated, while more than two-thirds of those over 50 have received both jabs. Around 58 percent of Americans aged between 12 and 17 have yet to receive any form of vaccination.

The White House is now targeting young Americans by recruiting an army of influencers. The roster of online personalities includes 50 Twitch streamers, YouTubers, TikTokers, and the extremely popular 18-year-old pop star Olivia Rodrigo. Following the White House’s lead, multiple states and other governmental agencies have begun similar campaigns, even paying “local micro-influencers” with follower counts between 5,000 and 100,000 up to $1,000 a month to promote coronavirus vaccines to their fans.

Christina Najjar, a TikTok star known as Tinx, even conducted a Q&A video with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In the video, Najjar asks Fauci a number of lighthearted questions about what to watch out for during “happy vaxx girl summer.” Najjar called the session “a great time,” adding, “I think I flirted with Dr. Fauci, but in a respectful way.” – READ MORE