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You are here: Home / Anderson On Health Insurance / Beer, Bonds, Donuts and Cash — incentives for vaccines

Beer, Bonds, Donuts and Cash — incentives for vaccines

by David Anderson|  May 4, 20218:17 am| 39 Comments

This post is in: Anderson On Health Insurance, COVID-19 Coronavirus

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Vaccinations for COVID-19 are ongoing.  Over two hundred million vaccine doses have been injected. Over a hundred million people are vaccinated.  There is starting to be significant variation in ongoing daily vaccine throughput as a function of geography and political leanings.  Each vaccine that goes into an arm provides significant individual level protection to the recipient and incremental community protection because COVID will have a harder time spreading.  The pace of current and future vaccination is varying as the first adapters are mostly already either fully vaccinated or in the process of getting vaccination.  Now we’re trying to vaccinate either the majority of the population or starting to reach out to the resistant hold-outs.

We’re going to see a lot of different incentives.

We already have donut based incentives.  Krispy Kreme will give out a free donut to anyone with a vaccination card.

West Virginia is offering a $100 savings bond for new vaccine recipients:

During Monday’s briefing, Gov. Justice announced that as part of his ongoing initiative to get more younger residents vaccinated, West Virginia will begin offering a $100 savings bond to each person from 16 to 35 years old who chooses to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We have vetted this in every way that we possibly can to be assured that we can use our CARES dollars to do exactly just this,” Gov. Justice said.

The incentive will be retroactive, meaning all West Virginians age 16 to 35 who have already been vaccinated will also receive a $100 savings bond.

New Jersey is offering beer:

New Jersey is rolling out a “shot and a beer” campaign to encourage vaccination pic.twitter.com/KtUgsLF5DI

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 3, 2021

And Maryland is offering state employees $100 to get vaccinated:

Today I announced that the State of Maryland will offer a $100 financial incentive to state employees who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We strongly encourage businesses across the state to consider offering incentives to their workers as well.

Details: https://t.co/yo2F3Ctp0B

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 3, 2021

These are carrot approaches. We also have stick approaches as an increasing number of universities are requiring all students to come back on campus in the fall vaccinated. Many universities that will be requiring a vaccination in the fall to return to campus are attempting to vaccinate as many current students now, before they leave campus for the summer but this will vary.

Incentives will matter to get the next 40% of the population vaccinated. I personally think short term, immediately available incentives will be more effective than long term and non-fungible incentives. Cash, gift cards, good beer and a meal are likely more relevant and valued by 16-35 year-olds than a savings bond. But both are worth a shot. I also think that making vaccinations easier is likely to have more immediate impact than small cash or cash like incentives.

But right now, efforts to get people vaccinated are ongoing and different ideas are worth exploring even if some of them may not shake out all that effectively.

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Reader Interactions

39Comments

  1. 1.

    Soprano2

    May 4, 2021 at 8:31 am

    My employer, City of Springfield, MO, offers all of us a $20 gift card (choice of several retailers) for the 1st shot, and a day off with pay for the 2nd shot, plus there is special emergency leave you can use to get your shot, and if you have side effects from the shot. The last number I saw was 40% of city employees are fully vaccinated. I’m hoping that as time goes on, more people will become less hesitant, but I agree that next 40% is going to be tough.

  2. 2.

    emmyelle

    May 4, 2021 at 8:32 am

    You know, I gotta tell ya, I’m nervous and skeptical about the “requirement” that colleges/universities are imposing for fall enrollment. For context I work at a small campus that is part of a big state system. I’m fairly certain that we will be able to handle this on our campus (enrollment under 3000), but it’s going to be a clusterf*ck on the big campuses (15K-35K students).

    There will be all manner of exceptions (not actual process-driven exemptions) granted for whatever reason. We in my state do not have our documentation shit together. We have apparently one of the highest per capita vax rates, which is cool, but I really don’t know how we will manage collecting this information. We wont have time or resources to verify it, so all manner of right wingnut fakery will be tolerated. Then some fuckwads who are actually unvaxed will get sever covid and the wingnuts will say “see-the vaccine is crap”.

    So, wish us luck.

  3. 3.

    MattF

    May 4, 2021 at 8:45 am

    There are still barriers. Here in DC-area Maryland, there are -no- mass vaccination sites in the urbanized areas. How about walk-in vaccination at every Metro station and at bus terminals?

  4. 4.

    Eric S.

    May 4, 2021 at 8:46 am

    Just more GQPers living off the government dole.

    My CEO sent an email yesterday encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. No carrots and no sticks. I think most if not all of the private sector will stay away from the sticks. NOTE: We do have paid time off for getting the shot and any side effects.

    It’s not a novel insight but the anecdata suggests to me the vaccination sites need to be more widespread and to not require appointments. The online appointment process is intimidating and/or downright befuddling to many. Once you get an appointment many can’t drive anywhere for various reasons. Others are just lazy but would get the shot if there was a booth in the local pharmacy or grocery. I know people in all these categories. This doesn’t solve for anti-vaxxers but there’s a large number of people that could be caught up if it was just convenient for them.

  5. 5.

    lowtechcyclist

    May 4, 2021 at 8:50 am

    I’m mostly concerned about people who don’t have a car and/or don’t have the spare time to get to a vaccination site.

    Incentives may run into a wall with people in this situation, even if they would like to get vaccinated. Bringing the vaccinations to where they live or work is something we need to consider.

  6. 6.

    dmsilev

    May 4, 2021 at 8:56 am

    @emmyelle: My employer is, at least for now, planning on relying on the CDC cards. They’re not ideal to put it mildly, but it’s the only game in town.
    We do have international students who will be coming back in the fall; that’s a whole other can of worms that is only just beginning to be considered. What vaccines are “acceptable”? One that’s been FDA approved? Or maybe approved by the WHO? Is it medically safe/advisable to ask a student who has been given Sinovac (for instance) to get a US-approved shot when they travel here?

    Glad I’m not the one who has to come up with the answers.

  7. 7.

    stacib

    May 4, 2021 at 8:57 am

    Chicago is now going to do a mobile unit that will travel through the neighborhoods. No appointments necessary. I hope the advance notice is good and folks know when and where BEFORE the vaccination truck is onsite. At the very least, it’s a great step in the right direction for reaching the people that may have issues getting to the United Center or one of the other mass sites.

  8. 8.

    dmsilev

    May 4, 2021 at 8:58 am

    @lowtechcyclist: The public health folks in my neck of the woods are doing just that. Winding down the big “thousands of doses per day” drive-through sites and instead ramping up a large network of neighborhood clinics. It’s a major effort, but it’s what is necessary.

  9. 9.

    tom

    May 4, 2021 at 9:00 am

    Wayne County (Detroit), MI, is now offering in-home vaccination for homebound residents. This is way overdue, but better late than never.

  10. 10.

    Wag

    May 4, 2021 at 9:03 am

    In Eagle County in Colorado (home To Vail), the local Department of Public Health has had one and done pop up vaccine clinics offering J+J at local breweries.

  11. 11.

    Cheryl Rofer

    May 4, 2021 at 9:03 am

    Santa Fe is also sending out vaccinators to people who find it difficult to get out.

  12. 12.

    Nicole

    May 4, 2021 at 9:04 am

    @emmyelle: 

    How is it different than the regular requirements for other vaccinations for incoming college students? Like, I remember having to get an MMR booster and a tetanus shot prior to starting college in the fall because the school required it. That was back in pre-computerized medical records days so I guess I could have faked the paperwork, but it was just easier to get the shots (also, I prefer to be vaccinated against bad things).

    I would think a school would be more likely to be seeing students who are all or nothing; they either are fully vaccinated or they’re demanding an exemption for all vaccines. But I guess this fall will tell the tale.

  13. 13.

    raven

    May 4, 2021 at 9:08 am

    @emmyelle: Nah, UGA handled it.

  14. 14.

    Nicole

    May 4, 2021 at 9:12 am

    @dmsilev:

    My employer is, at least for now, planning on relying on the CDC cards. They’re not ideal to put it mildly, but it’s the only game in town.

    They’ll improve as we get farther along.  I’d like to get the Excelsior pass, but I got my vaccination in a different state, so no go for now, but they’ll sort it out.

    Heck, my international vaccination card is still just a yellow foldout I keep tucked in my passport, filled out in pen by the doctors who gave me the shots.  It’s not like it’d be hard to fake that, but it’s still all I got.

  15. 15.

    hueyplong

    May 4, 2021 at 9:13 am

    Some RWNJ will sue a university claiming strong religious objections to vaccination, casting uncertainty/chaos on the rule until the Trumpist SCOTUS gives us another FUBAR ruling.

    And T Carlson’s show will program itself.

  16. 16.

    narya

    May 4, 2021 at 9:16 am

    @stacib: We’ve been doing this for quite awhile and (hopefully) will be funded to do more; the city divided the city into five zones. Also sites at Daley City College, Chicago State, Apostolic Faith in Bronzeville. Also possible to go to the local pharmacy–that’s how a friend did it.

  17. 17.

    Percysowner

    May 4, 2021 at 9:18 am

    @Nicole: That’s what I was wondering. Approximately 50 years ago, I had to get boosters for all my vaccinations (DPT, was pre MMR, so I had all those and chickenpox)  in order to go to college. I don’t think anyone even questioned the requirement.

  18. 18.

    Nicole

    May 4, 2021 at 9:23 am

    @Percysowner: Yeah, I would just figure colleges would add it on to the list of required vaccinations for incoming freshmen.  Worst case, a previously vaccinated young adult with a paper record only could probably just get a booster J&J shot from their GP in the summer if the college is worried about fake CDC cards.

    It’ll be a little more of a hassle for the currently returning students, but that issue will sort itself out in a few years.

  19. 19.

    lowtechcyclist

    May 4, 2021 at 9:28 am

    @stacib: Chicago is now going to do a mobile unit that will travel through the neighborhoods. No appointments necessary.

    @dmsilev: The public health folks in my neck of the woods are doing just that. Winding down the big “thousands of doses per day” drive-through sites and instead ramping up a large network of neighborhood clinics.

    I’m glad to hear that this sort of thing is going on in a good number of places.  So far as I know, it’s not happening here in Maryland yet, but hopefully we’ll get there.

  20. 20.

    Soprano2

    May 4, 2021 at 9:30 am

    @Eric S.: It’s not a novel insight but the anecdata suggests to me the vaccination sites need to be more widespread and to not require appointments. The online appointment process is intimidating and/or downright befuddling to many.

    I totally agree with this. I think at this point having to navigate the internet and make an appointment is a barrier to a lot of people. I’m hoping that the clinic they had at our local outside Artsfest this past weekend snagged quite a few people who want to get vaccinated but don’t want to have to bother with making an appointment. I saw an announcement of a walk-in vaccination clinic at a fire station this weekend. These are good efforts; next is being able to go to the pharmacy at WalMart or CVS and get a shot without an appointment. That’s how I got my shingles vaccine!

  21. 21.

    Big G

    May 4, 2021 at 9:34 am

    Current guidance from my Univ is “NO vaccine requirement allowed”, even for students going on day long bus-ride field trips. In fact we are not even allowed to require COVID tests before the trip. Don’t want to anger the Gov, Leg., Board of Wingnuts. It’s all over, you know ( though 50% of local cases are students).

  22. 22.

    Tazj

    May 4, 2021 at 9:37 am

    There is a shot and a beer vaccine campaign in Erie County, NY. They also had prom themed vaccine clinics for teenagers here. The county has partnered with the VNA to vaccinate home bound residents. They were using the J&J vaccine for that, but I think they switched to Moderna.

    Yesterday I was at Walmart. Well, it’s five minutes from my house. Anyway, they announced that anyone could walk in and get the vaccine right away. So I was happy to know how widely available the vaccines are in my area now.

  23. 23.

    Ian R

    May 4, 2021 at 9:40 am

    @Big G: Where is this, so I can be careful to never go there?

  24. 24.

    Jinchi

    May 4, 2021 at 10:04 am

    FDA likely to authorize Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 to 15

    I don’t mean to knock any idea to incentivize people who are reluctant or unmotivated to get the shot, but extending the vaccinations to children is going to be a much bigger deal.

  25. 25.

    WaterGirl

    May 4, 2021 at 10:08 am

    @Jinchi:  I’m happy to see that the folks in charge realize that  we have to come at this 7 different ways, on every front, in order to get the most people vaccinated.

    I don’t see why vaccination % shouldn’t be the determining factor in what can open and what cannot.  Everywhere.

  26. 26.

    JMS

    May 4, 2021 at 10:08 am

    If the cases are going down, there will be less incentive for the less enthusiastic. As time goes on, it would be good to create infrastructure to stand up rapid vaccination boosts whenever and wherever an outbreak happens. When I was in college, there was a measles outbreak nearby and I was hustled over to student health to get an MMR booster within a day or 2. I wouldn’t have gotten one otherwise.

  27. 27.

    Michael Cain

    May 4, 2021 at 10:10 am

    @Nicole: As soon as the vaccines are fully licensed, they’re no different than other vaccinations schools or employers require.  Under EUAs?  None of the proposed mandates have been tested in court.  I don’t believe the US federal courts will allow forcing civilians to be vaccinated with a drug that is temporarily approved.  The U of California policy is the only one that I’ve seen the actual text, and it says the policy starts when licensed vaccines are available.

    Given the steps that have to occur in order for a license to issue, and that it takes 5-6 weeks to become fully vaccinated with the most commonly available vaccines, I’m not real hopeful that there will be licensed vaccines in time for the start of the fall term.

  28. 28.

    Feathers

    May 4, 2021 at 11:56 am

    Got an email from my hometown yarn shop, Fibre Space (the one Kamala visited!), that they would be closed for an afternoon and the following day. Why? The staff would be getting vaccinated and the owner was arranging for that time off, plus giving everyone the next day off in case they had any vaccine side effects.

    How many employers are willing to give this sort of support for employee vaccination? I’ve seen so many reports of people not even being able to get time off for the shot itself.

  29. 29.

    Martin

    May 4, 2021 at 12:23 pm

    @Michael Cain: Yeah, our system legal folks determined that we could do it. Our campus folks originally told us we couldn’t because of the emergency approval, but the system decided otherwise.

    In a nutshell, the unis can’t fully reopen until we have herd immunity, and we’re not going to get there. We can at least get there on the campus. If we don’t require it, then we’ll never get out of the forced hybrid approach, residence halls will be a bit of a problem.

  30. 30.

    emmyelle

    May 4, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    @Nicole: Differences would be documentation and access. Of course, we can do with COVID what we do with MMR-you need to show evidence that you have it, even if that means going to X location at Y time and getting it now.

    I will say that we are planning this on our campus-you need it, but there is a grace period after the start of the term and here’s a map of all the locations you can get it, bring your card, etc. I’m just wondering how that will go in a huge university in a cow town

  31. 31.

    Martin

    May 4, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    Carrots don’t really work well. Generally the carrots attract the same people that will do it just by telling them how it benefits the community. I mean, it doesn’t hurt unless it’s displacing more of a stick approach. Executive order you can’t get on a form of interstate travel (plane, train, bus) without a vaccine would do it.

  32. 32.

    emmyelle

    May 4, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    @raven: That’s cool. Just wondering how they managed compliance and documentation

  33. 33.

    Gvg

    May 4, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    @emmyelle: the University of Florida handled it. Our big football stadium was the cities biggest vaccination site before the age drop down to College age, and indications are most of the students did it that first week they could. 17500 in one week, the next week high, then steadily dropping. It was already walk-in no appointment. 4 days a week including Saturday and some evenings for variety to meet different needs. Even the parking was handled which on this campus is normally a problem.

    Interviews with the students after indicated a lot wanted to be vaccinated before going home to older family in the summer. Expecting to get 2nd shot at home but they knew even the first helped protect. They seemed very aware that it wasn’t just about them.

    There were no problems. I do think we will have a bunch argue for an exemption when they come back but we can cross that bridge when we get there. If the vaccines are regular approved and not emergency use only by fall, it will be easier for the school to insist.

  34. 34.

    LongHairedWeirdo

    May 4, 2021 at 12:31 pm

    Crazy thing about Savings Bonds is, they’re no longer worth half of face value. A $100 savings bond is essentially $100 in a mini savings account. I wonder if there’s a reason the state can’t give cash, but can give a bond. (Maybe it’s just easier to transfer a bond than write a check?)

  35. 35.

    Martin

    May 4, 2021 at 12:34 pm

    @emmyelle: Every college has a student health center. It might be very modest, but it at least employs someone who can put a dose of J&J in an arm. I went to an 800 student school out in Amish country and we had that.

    Implementing this won’t be a problem. Students are compliant – they want to be there, getting into college is enough work that they don’t want to throw that away. In my experience, non-compliance will be no more than 1% – small enough to handle on a case-by-case basis.

  36. 36.

    arielibra

    May 4, 2021 at 1:25 pm

    @Martin: Carrots don’t really work well. Generally the carrots attract the same people that will do it just by telling them how it benefits the community.

     

    Carrots might help to separate the lightly-resistant from the hardcore MAGA. I think my resistant brother might be close to succumbing, now that Jersey is offering free beer.

    Donuts, beer, a hundred bucks, two hundred bucks, a day off…is owning the libs really sweeter than all that?

  37. 37.

    Matt McIrvin

    May 4, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    @lowtechcyclist: In Massachusetts, the big centralized mass-vaccination sites the state initially set up weren’t as popular as expected, but in some places that are COVID hotspots (like my city) we set up local clinics running almost every day which have, lately, usually offered walk-ins. I think most people have gotten their shots at local pharmacies and hospitals.

  38. 38.

    Betsy

    May 4, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    @LongHairedWeirdo:

    It costs the state no money in the current budget year.  Since states can’t borrow like the federal government (many have balanced-budget statutes or state constitutional requirements), finding cash in the current budget year can be a deal-breaker for a simple cash incentive.

    So paying it out in the future is easier and allows budgeting over a multiyear budget program, or simply shifts the cost off on to future state obligations (and, by the way, future legislators).

  39. 39.

    Downpuppy

    May 4, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    @Matt McIrvin: The Cambridge Fire Department has big friendly firemen wandering around crowded spots giving out guides to walk in spots. They’re pretty good at spotting people who need a little push and ignoring those of us who are already done.
    Also, the giant spots like the Reggie & the Hynes have been pretty successful, although they’re slowing a bit now.

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