Google Doodle encourages people to get COVID vaccine
The Google letters are lining up to get vaccinated. Are you?
Google used Wednesday's Doodle animation to spur people to get the COVID vaccine. Each cheerful letter in the Google logo is depicted wearing a mask. Clicking on the image takes users to a search for "Covid vaccine near me," which contains information about availability, where to make an appointment, vaccination rates, vaccine facts, and more.
Watch closely, and there's actually more going on in the Doodle than mask-wearing letters. One by one, the G,O,O, and G jump and proudly display their bandaged arms (yes, these letters have arms). But get to the L, and there's no bandage. Sad!
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The Google E, it turns out, is actually a doctor, who is happy to help out L. It turns to a table of beakers, then turns to the L, and voila, the L has a bandage and is able to show off its vaccine. Hooray, we did it!
Sigh. If only it were so easy. The world is experiencing a spike in coronavirus cases as the highly contagious Delta variant tears through unvaccinated populations. In the U.S., the vaccine is widely available but "systemic barriers" — as STAT describes lack of access to information and vaccine sites, and, to some extent, misinformation-fueled vaccine hesitancy — have tempered vaccine rates.
The federal government and some states are making vaccine drives a priority, and vaccine rates have been increasing of late. But, in many tragic cases, it's too little too late.
Putting vaccine information as the literal first thing a person sees when they open a Google search could actually be helpful. STAT reports that "'having more information' is the single most important concern expressed by those unsure about the Covid-19 vaccine," according to polls.
Plus, Americans aren't the only ones getting served this Doodle. Google's Doodle information page shows that it's gone live throughout North America, Australia, Russia, many European and South American countries, and some Southeast Asian countries. That's important considering the pandemic is global.
Mashable has reached out to Google to find out whether it created this Doodle in collaboration with any public health agencies. We'll update this when we hear back. In the meantime, enjoy the animation, and find ways to help people get vaccinated here.
