Australian ad showing Covid patient gasping for air sparks backlash as country battles Delta variant

A dramatic government health advertisement showing a young woman gasping for air while on a ventilator has sparked a backlash in Australia, with social media users criticizing its targeting of young people for coronavirus vaccination -- the majority of whom are not yet eligible to receive the recommended shot.

"Covid can affect anyone. Stay home. Get tested. Book your vaccination," reads an on-screen message in the 30-second ad, seemingly intended to illustrate the risks posed to young people by the highly-contagious Delta variant. The ad, which began airing Sunday night in Sydney, "is quite graphic, and it's meant to be graphic," Australia's chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, said during a news conference Sunday. "We are only doing this because of the (Covid-19) situation."