According to Our World In Data, 2.18 billion people worldwide have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of June 7, 2021. Although many people are yearning for their dose, some people may need a little more convincing, which has led to many interesting strategies in the US to entice folks into getting jabbed to help stop the pandemic.
In a bulletin sent on June 6, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board announced that cannabis retailers could provide a single pre-rolled joint for free as a reward for getting vaccinated at an in-store clinic. This promotion will begin today (June 7) and last until July 12, and will only be available to those 21 and over.
Another intoxicating vaccine incentive comes from brewing company Anheuser-Busch, owner of brands such as Budweiser and Corona (ironically). In a statement on June 2, the company announced that once 70 percent of Americans are vaccinated, they will be giving away free beer in the form of “a $5.00 virtual debit card that can be used to purchase one (1) Anheuser-Busch product.” Residents of Alabama, Texas, and California are excluded from this offer, and people must upload a picture of themselves at “their favorite place to grab a beer” to get access to the free beverage. This move has been endorsed by President Joe Biden, who remarked “That's right: Get a shot, have a beer."
Krispy Kreme has also got in on the vax action, with a statement on their website reading “starting Monday, 3/22, anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card will receive a free Original Glazed® doughnut.” This offer is also only available in the US.
State Governors have also provided lotteries to vaccinated residents in order to encourage them to get vaccinated. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced on June 1 that residents of the state that have been fully vaccinated will be able to register to enter a prize draw, beginning on June 20 and ending on August 4. The range of prizes includes “a $1.588 million grand prize, a $588,000 second prize, full scholarships to any higher education institution in West Virginia, custom-outfitted trucks, weekend vacations at state parks, lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, custom hunting rifles, and custom hunting shotguns.” Get a shot to go shooting, if you will.
Ohio Governor Mike Dewine also announced a vaccine lottery, with five participants winning $1 million dollars. The second winner of the prize, Jonathan Carlyle, is an Amazon delivery driver with a 5-month-old baby at home. The prize will be a "good foundation" to "help raise him right," he told ABC News.
Vaccine incentives are also being offered worldwide. For example, a "lucky draw" has been opened to fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents, with prizes including an apartment worth 10.8 million Hong Kong dollars and 100,000 Hong Kong dollars in cash. Beijing residents over 60 have been offered two boxes of eggs when they get their second dose, and goldsmiths in Rajkot, India have offered vaccine incentives of gold nose pins for women and hand blenders for men.
