In order to get more of their citizens vaccinated, several states are instituting huge lotteries for those who get their vaccinations. Someone even won a million dollars. There are even incentives like free beer, donuts, burgers, tickets to games, etc. for those who haven't gotten vaccinated yet.
We got our vaccines in January and February to protect ourselves, our families and our community. It was our kuleana (Hawaiian for responsibility).
But there are people who refuse the vaccine because they think they won't get sick anyway since they're not elderly, or that it's some kind of conspiracy, or against their religion because they got some misinformation that the vaccine is made of fetal tissue, or because Trump didn't seem to think it was important (even though he got the vaccine before leaving office), or just plain don't care.
When you listen to all the incentives that are being offered to unvaccinated people, I can't help but shake my head seeing these people who didn't care about themselves or didn't believe they needed to help their communities line up for million dollar lotteries or that free beer.
Hawaii has now come up with an incentive plan too, but the difference is that they are offering it to any Hawaii citizen who has been vaccinated. All they have to do is sign up on the website: https://hawaiicovid19.com/vaccine/
And what can you win?
There's a lot of fun stuff that were donated for the lottery here, but gee.. I really wouldn't want that one year lease on a car. We already have a car.
I just think it's rather cool that anybody who has already been vaccinated can win.
I understand that in the first hour after the lottery was posted, the system crashed because so many people entered.
Will this get people to do the right thing?
I don't know.
And yes, I entered mom's name too. 😁
I hope she doesn't win the car either. The Zippy's for a Year would be cool though. She could have wun tun min every week.
NY Times today reported that cases are no longer declining because the Delta variant is at work now. I don't understand the no vaccine mentality.
ReplyDeleteMost Canadians seem gasping to get fully vaccinated, but one province has started a lottery -- our most redneck province.
ReplyDeleteIt seems a bit ridiculous, to me. It's the right thing to do, as a member of society.
ReplyDeleteMy dad almost died as a child from polio. When the polio vaccine became available, Dad saw that our family was first in line. I bet every survivor of COVID will see that their loved ones are all vaccinated. The prize for the shots should be not getting the virus!
ReplyDeleteI still see some people refusing to get the vaccine. I just don't get it either, like Marcia said. And I agree with what Granny Annie said, you should see that all your loved ones a re vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just got her second dose and received a $10 gift certificate from the store.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm a bit pessimistic when it comes to incentives mentioned above. It might get a few people who were on the fence to do it but I suspect that the large majority will be people who were already vaccinated or would have gotten vaccinated regardless. But only in hindsight when/if someone calculates the dollars spent per additional persons vaccinated will we ever know if it was worth the increase in taxes/decrease in funding for other programs that occurred to pay for it all.
It is awful that people need incentives for this
ReplyDeleteI don't get this either. I think it's wonderful that Hawaii is going the other direction for people who ARE vaccinated. Heck, I want to get vaccinated again as I was one of the people who got the Johnson One Dose Vaccine! (Though I did recently hear it's holding up better than expected against the variants.)
ReplyDeleteI was a little bummed when all the good stuff came after I was vaccinated:) Still I am not sure you could put a dollar amount on the piece of mind one gets for doing the right thing. Too bad there are still a large group of people who have to be bribed or coerced.
ReplyDeletethe people of the world are difficult to understand that's forsure! I'd enter a lottery for those who have taken the vaccine!
ReplyDeleteWashington has a state registry of those who have been vaccinated. All of those names go into the lottery. Do I need a prize? No. But I'll take it if I win it. After all, our taxes are paying for it.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the hold outs will be incentivized by the hope of winning a prize. I guess I hope so. Anything that works to get more people vaccinated is a good thing, I guess. But really. can't they stop being stubborn and stupid and just do the right thing?
I don't want a prize but I DO want more people (especially those anti-vaxxers in my family) to get the shots. :(
ReplyDeleteLOVE that Hawaii is rewarding those who are already vaccinated. It's so sad that others need an incentive.
ReplyDeleteAll of those not vaccinated, and the variants running around the world scare me. As a hospice nurse, I've seen many people exit this world; COVID is not the way: a horrid ending.
Keep getting those shots in Hawaii! Linda in Kansas
Paying people for what they're supposed to do anyway ... it's kinda crazy. But it works, and so probably worth it.
ReplyDeleteSince this was a federal government recommended project, I think that vaccinated folks should get a tax credit when they file their taxes next year.
ReplyDeleteI had just learned what Linda Reeder pointed out, that all of us in Washington State who have been vaccinated are enrolled in the lottery. I don't care if I win, I'm feeling like I already won by being among the vaccinated!
ReplyDeleteI just had my second vaccine on Saturday. I feel you should vaccinate yourselves so we can get on with our lives. My Mom and my one sister won't get the vaccine. I really just don't understand it!
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK our vaccination programme seems to be going well.
ReplyDeleteIs it really necessary to offer incentives like this?
All the best Jan
Ohio has begun giving cash prizes and college tuition to fully vaccinated citizens, in hopes of rounding up a few more stragglers.
ReplyDeleteI like the positive aspect where people who have been vaccinated are rewarded.
ReplyDeleteI really do not understand the mindset that buys into vaccination conspiracy theories. And frankly, I don't want to. Such people are what's wrong with the human race.
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