Today show’s Brooke Boney gets emotional as she pleads with vulnerable Indigenous Australian viewers to take the Covid vaccine
Today show entertainment reporter Brooke Boney has pleaded with Indigenous Australian viewers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 before it’s too late.
The 34-year-old, a Gamilaroi woman who grew up in Muswellbrook in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley region, became emotional on Tuesday’s show as she shared her fears about the Delta variant ripping into Australia’s most vulnerable communities.
‘I’ve been really concerned about the spread of COVID through regional and remote areas of NSW and Victoria, particularly those places with very high numbers of Aboriginal people,’ Boney said gravely.
‘So I just wanted to send a shout-out to those people in those regions who are affected, because Aboriginal people have more underlying health conditions than the rest of Australia,’ she continued.
The Sydney-based reporter then directed a stern warming to people living in these vulnerable communities to get the jab or risk suffering life-threatening consequences.
‘If someone you love catches Covid, it can be really, really dangerous. We’re not mucking around. It could mean that they get really sick, or worse.’
‘If someone you love catches Covid, it can be really, really dangerous ‘: Today show entertainment reporter Brooke Boney, 34, (pictured) pleaded with Indigenous Australian viewers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 before it’s too late on Tuesday
‘So it’s really important that you take the vaccines that are available to you, as recommended by your doctors,’ she said, adding: ‘People are working right now to get the vaccines to you, so when they become available, please, talk to your local health services.’
Brooke finished her speech by imploring viewers to take unscientific ‘information’ they find online about the virus with a pinch of salt.
‘This is not the time to be looking at information from unknown sources, or on Facebook. We are absolutely not mucking around any more,’ she said.
‘This is not the time to be looking at information from unknown sources’: The Sydney-based reporter implored viewers to take unscientific ‘information’ they find online about the virus with a pinch of salt.
‘You need to do this to protect our Elders and our babies and we cannot risk their health.’
Indigenous Australian communities, especially those in remote regions, often face unique health risks due to a lack of health services and overcrowded housing.
The community is also known to suffer more from chronic health conditions that can increase the chance of severe illness or death from Covid-19.
‘Get it done’: In July, Brooke revealed she has received the AstraZeneca vaccine via Instagram, and encouraged her followers to do the same
In July, Brooke revealed she has received the AstraZeneca vaccine via Instagram, and encouraged her followers to do the same.
Uploading a photo of herself moments after getting the jab, she wrote: ‘Easy AZ. Speak to your GP. Get it done if you can so we don’t have to keep locking down, people stop getting hospitalised and businesses stop suffering.’
The coronavirus vaccine is a vital measure being taken to protect the community from the spread of the virus.
Covid-19 can cause serious illness, ongoing health problems and sometimes even death.
The vaccines currently being rolled out in Australia are designed to ensure that even if you do contract Covid, you won’t get seriously ill.
Protect yourself: Covid-19 can cause serious illness, ongoing health problems and sometimes even death. The vaccines currently being rolled out in Australia are designed to ensure that even if you do contract Covid, you won’t get seriously ill