These articles both make reference to the rise in linguistic creativity among Australians when referring to the Covid-19 vaccination.
Australian Financial Review - Race to reopen: vaxx rates hit 36pc double, 60pc single
Here, the author's use of non-Standard orthography with the shortening 'vaxx' illustrates that this spelling is slowly becoming accepted in a wider range of contexts. The AFR is an edited publication that would normally conform to conventions of Standard English, so the use of this spelling is notable. It is likely that the staying power of compound noun 'anti-vaxxer' has had an influence in this respect.
In this article, the author refers to vaccine selfies as 'vaxxies', using a diminutive suffix alongside the non-Standard 'double x' spelling that seems to have taken hold. These types of suffixes are commonly used in Australian slang, although it is unclear at this point whether this particular term will gain widespread popularity.
Furthermore, the ABC article also uses the deictic term 'the jab', which has become widely understood to refer specifically to a Covid-19 vaccine.
Speaking of jabs, both TAB (the betting agency) and NAB (National Australia Bank) changed their logos in late 2021 to encourage people to go and get vaccinated. Businesses love to be on-trend in a marketing campaign, and with both companies using the same pun, hopefully people will get the, ah... point... of getting the jab.
For more on the functions of pandemic slang, read our related post here.
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