In the United States, where the daily number of doses administered is now declining, incentives are increasing to convince the undecided. A beer, donuts or tickets to sporting events… The governor of the US state of Ohio has struck hard. He announced, Wednesday, May 12, to create a lottery with $ 1 million up for grabs for people who have received an injection.
To win the prize pool, participants must be over 18, live in Ohio, and have received at least one dose of an anti-Covid vaccine.
“I know that some might say: “DeWine, you are crazy! Your million dollar raffle idea is a waste of money”. But the real waste at this point in the pandemic – when the vaccine is available to all who want it – is a death due to Covid-19 ”, said Mike DeWine, Republican governor of this state in the north of the United States.
The first winner will be announced on May 26. Then a new winner will be drawn “Every Wednesday for five weeks” and will get the same amount each time, DeWine said. The money will be taken from already existing federal funds set up to deal with the pandemic.
A lottery for the youngest
At the same time, a similar lottery aimed at vaccinated under-17s will receive a full four-year scholarship to one of Ohio’s state universities, a valuable gain in a country where higher education is expensive. .
The U.S. Medicines Agency (FDA) on Monday extended the authorization of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine to adolescents aged 12 to 15.
To convince the undecided to get vaccinated, states are stepping up initiatives. Maryland announced in early May that state employees would receive $ 100 if they were vaccinated.
In West Virginia, the same amount is offered as a savings bonus to 16-35 year olds, an age group more reluctant to be vaccinated. About 58.7% of American adults have received at least one injection.
