Many countries donate money, cards, lottery to encourage people to get vaccinated against Covid-19

Tens of thousands of doses of Covid-19 vaccine had to be destroyed due to expiration in Africa. Part of the reason is due to people’s fear and apprehension.
The US state of California proposed to give more than 116 million USD in cash and gift cards to people who get vaccinated before June 15. This is the latest and most lucrative incentive for people who are hesitant or skeptical to get vaccinated.

Countries are looking for ways to encourage people to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Photo: Getty Starting May 27, the first two million Californians to get vaccinated will each receive $50 in cash or a gift card. California Governor Gavin Newsom said this is part of an effort to promote vaccination as the state prepares to fully reopen the economy on June 15. “I announce the application of incentive cards. Two million cards will be applied on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re 12 or older, you can get a credit card or $50 cash,” Newsom said. 10 Californians vaccinated before June 15 also have a chance to win a $1.5 million lottery prize. States and private organizations across the country also offer a variety of incentives to convince people to get vaccinated, from free baseball tickets and beer, to college scholarships and cash. Meanwhile in Iraq, the private sector is also launching initiatives to support the government’s vaccination program. A cafe in the capital Baghdad announced free service to customers who have been vaccinated. You just need to show the vaccination certificate, you will be served free delicious coffee in the shop. Shop owner Yasser Alaa said the initiative was meant to emphasize the importance of vaccination. “I think we should expand the initiatives. Life is returning to normal thanks to vaccines. We have no weapons other than vaccines in this battle. We want to urge people to understand the importance of vaccines,” Alaa said. In Chile, if you get the vaccine, you will receive a “travel pass”, which allows you to move freely within the country. “This helps to make it easier for people who have had enough vaccinations to meet and have more contact with their loved ones,” said Chile’s health minister. However, there are limits to who can receive the card. They are not allowed to travel during the curfew, respecting public health regulations. Other measures including wearing masks and social distancing must still be observed. Freedom of movement does not include travel abroad, and the “Travel Pass” will use a QR code, allowing the government to change people’s status instantly if they become infected. The European Union’s “digital certification of Covid-19”, which requires users to have a Covid-19 vaccine, is expected to take effect from July 1, is also a motivation for people to European countries speed up vaccine coverage. There is still a fear of vaccination not only in Africa but also in developed countries such as Europe or the US. Practically any vaccine has an adverse reaction. This is true for every drug, pharmaceutical, and even food. However, according to the assessment of the World Health Organization, the risks posed by vaccines are much lower than the benefits. The incidence of adverse reactions is very low. Therefore, we should not be too concerned to ignore a powerful weapon in the fight against this dangerous virus.