Money, cars, cows, job opportunities – how is vaccination against COVID-19 encouraged in the world?

Interest in vaccinations against COVID-19 is declining, but the battle to achieve herd immunity continues. Poland is in the group of countries that opted for incentives (for example, a lottery in which you can win money and cars). There are also some that have decided to punish people who refuse to get vaccinated. How do states try to get people to vaccinate against COVID-19? Which approach is more effective?

1. To increase vaccination rates, authorities and companies in various countries around the world offer a wide range of incentives: from cash prizes, through cars, cows, sacks of rice, to free beer or dessert.
2. In order to persuade Poles to vaccinate against COVID-19, the government also used various “incentives”. One of them is the National Immunization Program Lottery, which starts on July 1
3. In some countries, penalties have been adopted for failure to vaccinate, ranging from a fine (Jakarta) to even the threat of imprisonment (Philippines)
4. Which solutions are more effective – punishment or incentive? What encourages Poles to vaccinate the most?
5. You can find more such stories on the Onet homepage.

It is not people waiting for vaccinations, but vaccinations for people. How is vaccination against COVID-19 encouraged in Poland?

– Until recently, we had problems with vaccines, now we have a lot of them; the challenge now is to convince Poles to vaccinate, admitted the head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Michał Dworczyk, a few days ago. The Minister of Health, Adam Niedzielski, also referred to the decline in interest in vaccinations: — I said that June will be the month when such a turning point will take place, when people will no longer wait for vaccinations, but vaccinations will be waiting for people.

Meanwhile, the fight to obtain herd immunity (also known as population or herd immunity) continues. Recall that the more people vaccinated, the more we are all protected. Moreover, thanks to herd immunity, vaccination protects not only the person who took the preparation, but also the weakest, who, due to various contraindications, cannot be vaccinated. It is worth recalling the recent words of Minister Niedzielski: – All research results say that, for example, in the context of the Delta variant, vaccination is a good protective measure, because it protects over 90 percent. before hospitalization and severe course. These are real effects – emphasized Niedzielski.

It is estimated that in the case of COVID-19, population immunity should work if 60-75 percent of the population is immune. the population will become immune. Meanwhile, at least the first dose has now been taken by more than 44 percent. 34% of us are fully vaccinated.

In order to persuade Poles to vaccinate against COVID-19, the government used various “incentives”. One of them is The National Immunization Program lottery, which starts on July 1. Any adult and fully vaccinated person can take part in it. There are money to be won, cars and scooters. The government also involved municipalities in the vaccination promotion campaign, launching competitions with numerous financial prizes. The commune with the highest percentage of vaccinated will receive PLN 2 million, and the first 500 communes that will vaccinate 67 percent. residents, will receive 100 thousand. zloty.

Another way to reach people who have not been vaccinated is to call them (it will be a call from the hotline managed by the National Health Fund). – Nearly a million connections will be made in the near future – said Adam Niedzielski on June 25. – We want to reach those who have not been vaccinated yet, we want to give them an opportunity. They will not have to take virtually any step, only answer the question, and the consultant on the hotline will arrange such a patient directly – explained the minister.

How other countries want to get COVID-19 vaccination? From money to prison

What incentives do other countries use when they try to vaccinate as many citizens as possible?

Some US states also run lotteries for vaccinated residents. For example, California has allocated USD 116,5 million for this purpose. Dozens of people have already received awards of 50. USD, 10 more people are waiting for a payment of USD 1,5 million. The vaccinated can also win $ 50 gift cards (there are 2 million of them).

In Moscow, anyone who receives the first of two doses of the vaccine by July 11 will participate in a weekly draw of five cars worth 1 million rubles ($ 13,9).

In one of the Filipino cities, the mayor plans to launch a lottery in which the prizes will be cows, in others, huge sacks of rice will be drawn from among the vaccinated.

According to Thomson Reuters Foundation News, companies are also involved in the campaign to encourage vaccination – in Malaysia, a vaccinated person can get free dessert, in Israel – beer. In Hong Kong, the developer is organizing a $ 1,4 million lottery game for the vaccinated. Of course, offering various types of giveaways or discounts can also help the companies themselves – there is always a chance that the customer will stay longer and buy more. Some employers who offer vaccinated workers bonuses are not indifferent.

To persuade people to vaccinate against COVID-19, some authorities rely on the ‘stick’ not on the ‘carrot’, although this is less common. Examples? Thomson Reuters Fundation News reports that the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta has imposed fines of up to 5 million rupees ($ 350) for people who avoid vaccines. Officials in Saifai, a university city in India, have instructed alcohol sellers not to serve drinks to unvaccinated people – although no official warrant has been issued, the Thomson Reuters Foundation points out.

In some countries, unvaccinated people will have limited access to public events or spaces. For example, Saudi Arabia has announced it will prohibit people from entering shopping malls from August unless they are vaccinated.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to imprison his country’s residents who do not want the COVID-19 vaccine. In a televised speech more than a week ago, he admitted being “irritated” by the attitude of Filipinos who refuse to vaccinate.

Some companies only want to hire people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19

Penalties or rewards – which approach is more effective?

Psychology suggests that rewards are more effective than punishments, but, as the Thomson Reuters Foundation notes, research related to the approach to vaccination indicates that both tools can be effective in some contexts.

«According to a 2014 review of research by the World Health Organization, orders and sanctions for non-vaccination were effective in increasing interest, and monetary incentive systems were considered less effective. More recent research has shown that the incentives helped make the decision to get vaccinated, ”reports the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

It is worth quoting here the results of the United Surveys poll for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna and RMF FM from the beginning of June. Poles were asked, inter alia, what will best encourage COVID-19 vaccination. The first place was taken by the covid passport (34,2%) and practical amenities, i.e. the possibility of taking a second dose at any point (21%). For 7,3 percent. the lottery and the possibility of winning a prize turned out to be an important stimulus.

It is impossible not to mention the ethical dimension of such activities. Nancy Kass believes that incentives are an ethical step forward, while deterrents and punishments should be used with great care. “It’s always better to start ethically at least by providing information, encouraging and facilitating before moving on to applying the credentials,” the Reuters Foundation told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Kass emphasizes that there is a significant moral difference between restrictions that force people to consider their situation and the options they have, and high fines that leave them with little choice.

You may be interested in:

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2. Immunity after the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – groundbreaking information
3. Which vaccines protect against the Delta variant? [WE CHECK]

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