COVID-19: The AM Show host Ryan Bridge offers to strip to encourage vaccination

  • 21/09/2021

We've heard of incentives such as vouchers, electronics and lotteries to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine - but The AM Show host Ryan Bridge has offered up something slightly different. 

Get vaccinated and you could witness Bridge taking his clothes off - and his fellow co-hosts Mark Richardson and Amanda Gillies might join him. You'll also get protected against COVID-19, of course.

"I wanted to actually raise an idea because everyone's doing this… so for every percent above 80 that we get as a country [vaccinated], we have to remove an item of clothing," Bridge said during Tuesday's show.

We have a vaccination target of 90 percent in New Zealand - we're currently sitting on about 38 percent.

"I think the easiest way to get people vaccinated is to take your clothes off," Bridge added.

Such a prize draw didn't initially sit well with Gillies and Richardson but they eventually agreed to take the matter to a vote - with the latter suggesting they change Tuesday's daily viewer poll.

"People are getting chocolate bars or money [for getting vaccinated]... and The AM Show's going to strip," Gillies said.

"If I show my bits and pieces on television will you go and get vaccinated? Let's change the poll right now," Richardson added.