Elton John and Michael Caine encourage Britain to get Covid-19 vaccine in NHS ad

Sir Elton John and Sir Michael Caine star in a new NHS ad for the Covid-19 vaccine, to assure others that ‘getting the live-saving jab is easy and safe’.

Sir Elton, 73, is seen auditioning for a part in the campaign to promote the vaccine, but while his message is on point, his delivery is deemed either ‘too showbiz’ or not showbiz enough.

The Tiny Dancer singer says: ‘The more people in society that get vaccinated, the more chance there is of eradicating the national Covid pandemic.

‘It is really important to know that the vaccines have all been through and met the necessary safety and quality standards.’

After apparently being given the injection, Sir Elton then references his 1983 hit I’m Still Standing by saying: ‘As you can see, I’m still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah.’

The director doesn’t seem too impressed though, saying: ‘Thanks Elton, we will let you know.’

Sir Elton reckons they won’t find anybody bigger at short notice to lead the campaign – but then the camera cuts to Sir Michael getting the vaccine.

The 87-year-old says that the jab didn’t hurt, adding: ‘Not many people know that.’

Afterwards, the director can be heard telling someone to ‘let the little fella know he didn’t get the job’.

The video has been released after the NHS asked anyone aged 70 and above who has not yet been vaccinated to come forward to receive one.

The campaign’s co-ordinator Professor Lord Ara Darzi, who is co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, said Sir Elton and Sir Michael are ‘trusted faces’ who are ‘loved’ by the public.

He told PA: ‘I asked them [to take part] and they were extremely generous in giving us the time to do this, which I was very grateful for, and I hope it does the job in convincing the population that vaccines for Covid is the best way out of this pandemic.

‘They were extremely keen to help in any way possible.’

Lord Darzi added he wanted the video to be ‘humorous and engaging’ and he hopes people who are sceptical about the vaccine will change their minds.

He said: ‘I think many people who have had two thoughts about this will think again.’

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: ‘Well over nine out of 10 people aged 75 and over have already taken up the offer of their NHS Covid vaccination, and now we want to encourage everyone in the high priority groups to do so.

‘That’s why we’re grateful to Sir Elton and Sir Michael for helping the NHS promote vaccine uptake, building on the fast and efficient programme to date, which has seen the NHS already vaccinate one in four adults across England.’

Over 12.5 million people in the UK have had their first doses of the coronavirus vaccine, with a further 500,000 having had their second doses.

Stars who have publicly shared that they have had their jabs include Sir Ian McKellen, Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Tom Jones, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dame Mary Berry, Dame Judi Dench, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Love Island’s Alex George, who works in a hospital. 

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