Melissa Rein Lively went viral last summer as her infamous Target mask rant was viewed online over 100M times
The former QAnon adherent, Influencer and public relations guru joins COVID Verified in an effort to allay misinformation and vaccine concerns among the most hesitant Americans
Melissa Rein Lively was seen destroying a mask display in a local Target in July 2020 as a follower of QAnon before she became an outspoken critic of the movement, now becoming the face of COVID Verified pro-vaccine campaign
PHOENIX, ARIZ. (May 14, 2021) -- You probably remember her name. Melissa Rein Lively was a prominent and successful luxury brand publicist before her viral video destroying a Target mask display was seen over a hundred million times all over the world. Now, the former QAnon adherent, anti-mask and anti-vax Influencer has taken a new role in combating misinformation and supporting global efforts to administer vaccines as the face of COVID Verified, a new vaccination ID bracelet program designed to encourage the most vaccine-hesitant people to show their support for the cause.
"I am thrilled to join COVID Verified as the face of the brand and do my part to encourage people to get vaccinated so we can finally move on from the pandemic," said Melissa Rein Lively, Spokesperson for COVID Verified.
"I was motivated to join this campaign because like millions of people around globe, my family experienced a devastating loss due to COVID. Experiencing this kind of heartbreak truly opens your eyes to the reality of this disease and so I want to do everything I can to encourage others to make good choices that can reduce the risk of severe illness and death, she said.
"Misinformation about vaccines is rampant online and it has influenced millions of people to make poor choices that put other people at risk," Lively said. "By participating in this campaign, it is my goal to help others feel more comfortable about getting a vaccine by answering questions and allaying some of the fears people have that are unfounded," she said.
COVID Verified is a new completely voluntary ID bracelet program that aims to support global vaccination efforts by offering an easily identifiable way for vaccinated people to share their vaccine status with others and show their support and solidarity for vaccination efforts.
"The fact that COVID Verified is a completely voluntary program was really important to me," Lively said. "I understand people's concerns about the government mandating vaccines, which I personally don't support. However, I do think education on the topic is important as well as making a patriotic choice that protects your family, friends and the people around you while keeping the businesses you love open and the economy moving," Lively said.
Founded on the same concept as the ubiquitous LIVESTRONG bracelet, COVID Verified is an awareness program that people can participate in by signing the COVID Verified pledge and wearing a purple COVID Verified bracelet that signals to those around them that "I have had my COVID-19 vaccine and I am safe to be around."
In the past 24 hours, millions of people have celebrated the eased restrictions by trashing the mask but there are many more who are not quite comfortable going bare faced in public yet. As a good citizen, you want others to know that you’ve been vaccinated and are safe to be around. The COVID Verified bracelet is the only accessory of its kind that you can wear every day that is designed to signal to those around you that you have been vaccinated and are safe to be around. Whenever you see someone wearing the purple COVID Verified bracelet, you can rest assured that that person has had their vaccine and is safe to be around as you begin to resume normal life.
Participating in the COVID Verified campaign and getting a purple bracelet is easy. After receiving your vaccine, visit www.covidverified.org to sign the pledge and order your bracelet. When your bracelet arrives, proudly wear it to let those around you know you care about the community and are safe to be around.
Campaign founder Clint Coonfer says the concept for COVID Verified was born out of a desire to mobilize people to help end the pandemic by creating a public cause to support the vaccine campaign and move the economy forward.
"Getting the vaccine is one of the single most important thing one can do as individuals and global communities come together to finally end the pandemic," he said. "Most people who have been vaccinated are proud of their choice and have done so not only to protect themselves but keep others safe and they want other people to know that. We felt it was important for people to have a way to easily indicate to others that they have been vaccinated and a simple purple bracelet paired with an awareness campaign similar to LIVESTRONG was the most effective and universally recognized way to do it," he said.
Powered by social media, the COVID Verified campaign encourages participants to post and tag photos, posts and stories on social pages by tagging the @C19Verified page and using the hashtag #IAMCOVIDVERIFIED.
As part of COVID Verified's global efforts, the organization has set a goal to distribute 10 million bracelets this year. The group will partner with vaccine sites, hospitals, workplaces, community organizations and teams to support and encourage vaccine programs at the community level and provide an incentive to people who get the vaccine.
"By signing our pledge and ordering your COVID Verified bracelet, you signal to the world that you’re fully vaccinated and safe to be around ensuring solidarity with others and peace of mind as you resume normal life. Wearing a COVID Verified bracelet is simply the easiest way to show you care," Coonfer said.
For more information about COVID Verified or to sign the pledge and order your bracelet visit www.covidverified.org. For campaign partnership information contact info@covidverified.org. To schedule an interview with COVID Verified Spokesperson Melissa Rein Lively or COVID Verified Founder Clint Coonfer, contact Gisele Grisham, The Brand Consortium PR.
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