Updated Feb. 4 at 12:50 p.m.
The Indiana Department of Health will run a commercial during Sunday’s Super Bowl emphasizing the importance of COVID-19 precautions and getting the vaccine.
The commercial will cost the state at least $123,000. Gov. Eric Holcomb said it’s “worth every penny.”
“The CARES Act dollars that we used contemplates communication – that when, where, how, why we need to get vaccinated,” Holcomb said.
READ MORE: How Will Indiana Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines? Here's What You Need To Know
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State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the commercial will help spread the state’s COVID-19 message to different audiences. She noted, for example, that far more women than men have gotten the vaccine so far.
“But really, we want to make sure we reach everybody where they live, work and play, right, and we know that a lot of people like sports, so the Super Bowl is a perfect place to do that,” Box said.
The commercial will center on the family of Paul Loggan, an Indianapolis high school athletic director who died from COVID-19 last year.
Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified Paul Loggan's son as Wes. That was incorrect. His name is Will Loggan.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
