In Ohio vacciners can now win up to 1m dollars
The local government has started a raffle to increase the number of people willing to get the shot.
Countries around the world are at different stages of vaccine adoption, with some struggling with shortages and others with more supply than demand. Now countries and states are coming up with creative solutions to the lack of demand problem ... none perhaps better than Ohio's COVID-19 vaccine lottery. Even beyond anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists, there seem to be large numbers of people who hesitate to get vaccinated because they fear the possible side effects, some of which are more serious than expected. Perceptions that the vaccines alter DNA and fears that they could cause cancer, infertility, and death keep many from doing so, although medical experts have denied these theories. In March, countries in Europe and elsewhere paused AstraZeneca use due to reports that a small number of recipients had developed blood clots, some of which were fatal. In April, the U.S. paused use of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine for 10 days to investigate rare cases of blood clots before recommending use again. A January survey by the Texas A&M University School of Public Health showed that 31% of US citizens did not intend to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it became available. However, since the vaccine was launched, those numbers have decreased. A survey by Monmouth University last month found that 1 in 5 Americans are still unwilling to get vaccinated against COVID-19. So far, 38.2% of Americans are fully vaccinated, but the number is now falling. This has forced many states to become more creative and more competitive. Probably the best incentive comes from Ohio, where Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health have just launched a $ 1 million lottery for vaccinated residents. There will be five Ohio Vax-a-Million draws, according to DeWine “I know some of you are now shaking your head and saying, 'Mike DeWine, he's crazy. This million dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money.' ... in the pandemic - if the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it - the real waste is a life that has now been lost to COVID-19, "Governor DeWine said. According to the state, there were around 1 million entries just two days after the lottery officially launched. Ohio also offers five full college scholarships to vaccinated students ages 12-17. Other states are going their own way when it comes to creating incentives, but nothing beats the chance of a million dollar win. In Kentucky, those who get vaccinated at a participating Kroger or Walmart can now receive a voucher for a Kentucky lottery ticket with a grand prize of $ 225,000. Less exciting are New Jersey with free beer, Connecticut with a free drink, and Maine, where vaccinated residents can choose between a free parking pass, a hunting or fishing license, or a $ 20 L.L. Bean can choose. Across the Atlantic, the Serbian government has announced that it will pay $ 30 for every citizen who gets vaccinated against COVID by the end of May. The country's president, Aleksandar Vucic, had also promised continued payment of wages in the event of illness, but was ultimately unable to keep this. No country has made vaccination compulsory, although some companies, institutions and industries do. In March Italy made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all health care workers, but there was no resistance there as only about one in 10,000 medical workers refuse to be vaccinated. In the US, however, hundreds of colleges will require students to be vaccinated by the fall of 2021, which does not go down well with many students as some protest on religious or political grounds.