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Johnny's no longer got you covered as HSE launches new safe sex campaign

The #respectprotect campaign will provide “greater flexibility”, the HSE said.

HSE Ireland / YouTube

THE HSE HAS launched a new social media campaign promoting safe sex to coincide with Electric Picnic, with the tag line #respectprotect.

It replaces the long-running Johnny’s Got You Covered slogan and adverts, as the HSE’s Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme’s campaign aims to carry on the focus on the importance of using condoms to protect against STIs and as a form of contraception.

The HSE said the new campaign will provide it “greater flexibility” in sending these messages to young people.

At the festival in Stradbally this weekend, an outreach team will disseminate condoms and lubricant sachets to Electric Picnic attendees. The campaign will also see icons, tattoo stamps and photo frames used to engage young people on social media channels.

It’s all part of actively encouraging sexually active young people to think ahead, access correct information and practice safer sex.

Helen Deely, the HSE’s programme lead in this area, said: “Moving to the new campaign will provide the HSE with greater flexibility in conveying more targeted and credible safer sex messages to our younger audience. 

Our move from Johnny’s Got You Covered to #respectprotect is in response to both policy and significant social change in Ireland over recent years. Developed in partnership with young people and our sexual health community partners, the colourful heart logo, which endorses the campaign, is understood to be a symbol for care and inclusivity, respecting all sexual orientations.

According to provisional figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, there were 5,200 cases of young people diagnosed with either chlamydia (3,730), gonorrhoea (872) or genital herpes (598).

This was an increase of 11.2% in the STI rate among 15-24 year-olds compared to 2016 figures.

The HSE provides more information about STIs, consent, relationships, contraception and crisis pregnancy here

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    Mute Brendan McKiernan
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    Aug 31st 2018, 10:58 AM

    Poor Johnny got the sack!

    302
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    Mute Cheapy Ryan
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:00 AM

    @Brendan McKiernan: Johnny got the clap.

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:31 AM

    @Brendan McKiernan:
    Should have read the instructions!

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    Mute Mick Stafford
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    Aug 31st 2018, 1:36 PM

    @Brendan McKiernan: so it seems that their Johnny is as outdated as the one in my wallet….

    21
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    Mute Nigel Kelleher
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:09 AM

    My Dad told me condoms don’t work

    185
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    Mute John Longmore
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    Aug 31st 2018, 2:34 PM

    @Nigel Kelleher: bone killers

    21
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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Aug 31st 2018, 2:48 PM

    @John Longmore: there’s apparently a Russian saying along the lines of “sex with a condom is like smelling flowers through a gas mask”

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    Mute DaisyMay
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    Aug 31st 2018, 3:27 PM

    @John Longmore: only for those inept at putting them on

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    Mute Nicholas Grubb
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    Aug 31st 2018, 4:31 PM

    @Harry Whitehead:
    And an Irish one I heard years back down in South Tipp. “Its like washing your feet with your socks on”

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    Mute
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    Aug 31st 2018, 9:58 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: you wonder why Russia has a high HIV rate

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    Mute John McCarthy
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:31 AM

    Just searched that hash tag on twitter. Not one tweet from the HSE but lots from a person highlighting wildlife issues.

    The HSE media team should really check common uses of hash tags before creating a new campaign.

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    Mute Luke Sharpish
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:35 AM

    @John McCarthy: #BeGoneGonorrhoea would have been my choice.

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    Mute Seán Domhnall O'Sullivan
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    Aug 31st 2018, 1:00 PM

    @John McCarthy: the hse is too busy wasting money at the top. It is a failed and corrupt organisation .

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    Mute wattsed
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:11 AM

    Reminds me of the Eagles track. .”Johnny come lately”

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    Mute GClare
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    Aug 31st 2018, 1:04 PM

    @wattsed: there’s a new kid in town

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    Mute Brian Smith
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    Aug 31st 2018, 2:14 PM

    The new campaign will be something like “ hey let’s get drunk together, have sex together, and in the morning I’ll regret it and have you charged with rape’ Men is it worth it ? Just go have a wank.

    There job done, no need for expensive advertising companies!

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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Aug 31st 2018, 5:08 PM

    @Brian Smith: feckin incel

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    Mute Margate
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    Aug 31st 2018, 5:41 PM

    @Brian Smith: And taxpayer will have to foot your Orthopaedic bills when you’re 50 or 60 due to ” prevailing wrist problems”! No way.

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    Mute eastsmer
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    Aug 31st 2018, 1:52 PM

    The latest money spending exercise from a Government Department.
    Last week it was an ‘Irish Water’ Propaganda campaign, this week a HSE STI campaign that will do little or nothing to reduce trolley numbers.

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    Mute Irish Bob
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    Aug 31st 2018, 2:18 PM
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    Mute Murf
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:27 AM

    New john wayne condom called ….’Cover me im going in’

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:26 AM

    Can`t wait to see all the condom framed profile pics on Facebook over the next few days.

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    Mute Gerald Duffy
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    Aug 31st 2018, 2:55 PM

    Come on Sean… “disseminate condoms and lubricant sachets”

    Perhaps you are thinking about insemination… you disseminate information and distribute product !!!!!

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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
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    Aug 31st 2018, 11:51 AM

    It should have went just in Casey,Johnny s got you covered

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    Mute John Hagin Meade
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    Aug 31st 2018, 2:45 PM

    Who washes their feet with their socks on?

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    Mute
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    Aug 31st 2018, 9:57 PM

    Remember No Glove No Love

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