San Bernardino (United States) (AFP)

A health education center near Los Angeles has chosen Hollywood codes to promote anti-Covid vaccination: a play in which a brave superhero destroys the ugly coronavirus with information on vaccines.

"We had the idea for this play to educate people about the importance of getting vaccinated, especially the youngest," Valentina Sanabria, director of "Captain Empathy against Covid-19", told AFP. , a play presented this week at the El Sol Center in San Bernardino, in the eastern suburbs of Los Angeles.

In the room, doctors lament the surge in hospitalizations, especially young people reluctant to be vaccinated, while Coronavirus, the big bad with sardonic laughter, spreads lies about the effects of the vaccine to better extend its hold on the population.

Fortunately, Captain Empathy appears with his blue suit and yellow cape to neutralize Coronavirus by convincing two young people to receive the beneficial injection.

Two actresses wear a coronavirus mask for the play "Captain Empathy against Covid-19", at the El Sol center in San Bernardino, August 19, 2021 in California Frederic J. BROWN AFP

Simplistic as it is, the scenario accurately reflects the situation in San Bernardino County, where the number of Covid-19 cases has increased 48% in the past two weeks.

Although vaccination is free and open to anyone aged 12 and over, only half of the county's population is so far immune.

According to official figures, 12-34 year olds have the lowest vaccination rate.

"Many people are resistant to the vaccine (...) because of the rumors about the presence of a computer chip, because they do not know what is in the vaccine, because it is still too much recent ", deplores Ms. Sanabria.

Captain Empathy (d), cowardly attacked by the Covid-19 virus, in a play in San Bernardino, August 19, 2021 in California Frederic J. BROWN AFP

The play aims precisely "to fight against disinformation", launches Natanael Chavez, who plays Captain Empathy.

"I thought that since I already had the Covid, I already had antibodies and that I did not need to be vaccinated", says Julia Perez, 26, who plays the role of a vaccine refractor .

"Here, I learned that it is important", continues the young woman, ensuring that she will be vaccinated quickly, like her character.

In the United States, 51% of the population is vaccinated against Covid-19, with those over 65 showing the best rate (81%).

© 2021 AFP