GlaxoSmithKline Philippines "Rotavirus" (found Philippine PSAs about the disease; 2009)

Status: Found

Date found: December 4, 2022

Found by: gimurbi13 (first variant, 2009) and 𝙁𝙍𝘼𝙉𝙕𝙏𝙀𝙉𝘿𝙊64 (second variant, 2022)

GlaxoSmithKline Philippines aired two variants of PSA about Rotavirus, which are the most common cause of diarrhoeal disease among infants and young children. The advertisements are known for its unsettling content.

Description

Variant no. 1: Hospital

The PSA starts with the sound of a melancholic music box, and we see stuffed animal toys and then the baby's foot. Then, it cues into eerie music and we see an intravenous fluid bag is being connected to the baby, revealing to be admitted to the hospital. Then, we see a nurse is about to deal with the baby and the camera pans away while we see a worried mother watching through the window pane.

The screen then transitions into softer nature where the music now cues into a soft tune and we see a baby and his mother happily bonding.

During this, the female voice-over states:

Every year, 2.4 million babies worldwide are hospitalized due to severe diarrhea and vomiting. One of out two of these cases is caused by rotavirus.

Don't let these happen. Protecting these kids with two doses of oral rotavirus vaccine by 6 months of age because the hospital is not cause for your babies. Ask your doctor.

Variant no. 2: Teddy Bear

The PSA opens with the sound of a music box playing in an ominous tone and we see a baby lying on a crib with a teddy bear on its front. A teddy bear then unexpectedly reanimates, baring its sharp teeth and retracting its claws. A bear begins to approach the baby, in which its shadow casts onto the wall where the words "Rotavirus" and lastly "vomiting", "hospitalization" and "dehydration" are projected.

The next shot shows a mother opening the door which transitions into a peaceful nature where a mother is taking care of her baby and the last frame showing the baby peacefully sleeping on a crib along with another stuffed toy on his side.

During this, a female voice-over states:

You might not know it but there's a threat to your baby working in the most ordinary things, it's called "Rotavirus" and it could lead to hospitalization.

Prevent rotavirus, the first six months is a time to protect your baby. Don't miss a chance. Ask your doctor.

Availability

The PSAs were aired on QTV (then GMA News TV, and now GTV) and ABS-CBN in 2009. The "Hospital" variant was uploaded on June 15, 2009 on YouTube at the time when the PSA was aired on television. The "Teddy Bear" variant, however, was initially presumed to be lost until 𝙁𝙍𝘼𝙉𝙕𝙏𝙀𝙉𝘿𝙊64 found the lost "Teddy Bear" variant and subsequently, uploaded it on his YouTube channel on December 4, 2022.

Gallery

"Hospital" variant

"Teddy bear" variant (Archived)

Another "Teddy bear" variant video (Archived. This video went undiscovered for years, with only 671+ views.)