More States Looking at COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Programs

May 14, 2021 by Nicole Twohig

As the US begins to see demand for COVID-19 vaccines plateau, some states have started implementing incentive programs to encourage residents to get one of the three vaccines available: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Recently announced incentive programs are supported by numerous research studies that support the efficacy of incentivizing vaccine adherence.

As the US begins to see demand for COVID-19 vaccines plateau, some states have started implementing incentive programs to encourage residents to get one of the three vaccines available: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. Recently announced incentive programs are supported by numerous research studies that support the efficacy of incentivizing vaccine adherence.

On May 3rd, VCBH Director Stephen T. Higgins, PhD spoke with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s June Leffler about Governor Jim Justice’s plan to offer $100 savings bonds to those 35 and younger as an incentive to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Most recently, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a lottery for vaccinated adults that will pay out $1 million each to five winners beginning May 26. Separately, DeWine is offering five vaccinated teenagers full-ride scholarships to the state’s public universities, which includes all four years of tuition, room, board, and textbooks. In Connecticut, the Connecticut Restaurant Association is partnering with Governor Lamont to launch the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign where participating Connecticut restaurants will offer complimentary drinks to vaccinated patrons between May 19-31. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo began a promotion that would provide free tickets to Mets games from May 24 through June 17 and to Yankee games from May 7 through June 6 for newly vaccinated people, along with another promotion that gave residents free weekly subway passes. The expectation is more states will announce incentive-based programs to increase vaccine uptake and encourage people to keep their second-dose appointments.