Today, National Australia Bank is replacing ‘nab’ with ‘jab’ across various assets and channels to encourage Australians to get vaccinated against Covid-19, and help the nation open up again.

The campaign will be shown on TV commercials, billboards and online, as well as on signage at grounds for the remainder of the AFL finals series.

In a message to NAB colleagues about the campaign yesterday, NAB Chief Operating Officer Les Matheson said: “Getting as many Australians vaccinated is key to unlocking greater freedoms and protection for our customers, colleagues, and the community. And as Australia’s leading business bank, we want to champion getting Australia back to business by delivering hope and optimism and supporting the community’s vaccination push.”

NAB CEO Ross McEwan has been a vocal supporter of the national vaccination roll-out. Speaking to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics yesterday, he called for the government to provide more detail on how vaccinated residents would be allowed greater freedoms once Australia hit its 80 per cent vaccination target.

Current forecasts show 80 per cent of eligible Australians will have had their first jab within three weeks, and their second jab by mid-November.

“This is our light at the end of the tunnel. Our communities need hope. Our businesses need clarity, to plan for the future,” said Mr McEwan, who is fully vaccinated.

Australia’s National Cabinet plan states that when we hit the 80 per cent vaccination target, vaccinated residents will be exempt from all domestic restrictions.

European countries have already implemented a vaccine pass, allowing vaccinated people to attend restaurants, sporting events, major concerts and domestic travel.

“Australia needs its own national vaccine pass, providing similar freedoms, ready to launch when we reach 80 per cent,” Mr McEwan said. He added this domestic pass should be developed alongside Australia’s existing plans for an international vaccine passport.

Mr McEwan told the House of Representatives that “Many businesses are in a state of hibernation, waiting for restrictions to open up and ready to get going again”. But he remained bullish about Australia’s economic future once restrictions were lifted. He noted that as at 31 August, just over a $1.8 billion in lending was on deferral. This compared to $58 billion at the height of the pandemic last year.

Mr McEwan also noted the growing toll of lockdowns on people’s mental health and wellbeing. “We are seeing it among our colleagues and hearing it from our customers when they call us for help,” he said.

To find out more visit nab.com.au/jab