COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives

toomuchbaloney · Jun 5, 2021

I think what ever it takes to get more than 70% of eligible Americans vaccinated is fine with me. The low hanging fruit is just about all collected...so to speak.

macawake, MSN · Jun 5, 2021

On 6/4/2021 at 4:02 AM, NRSKarenRN said:

What do nurses think of these incentives???

I have mixed feelings about this. First of all I think it’s kind of ironic to offer people alcoholic beverages and junk food when attempting to promote public health.

Having to pay/bribe people to do something that is in their own best interest and helps keep the society that they are a part of safer for all, to me just reflects poorly on the human race. There is also the risk that some people might wonder if there are hidden risks or a hidden agenda when the authorities resort to bribing them to do something they wouldn’t have done otherwise. I just wish we had an educated populace instead who got the vaccines because they understood that it’s the best choice, both for them and the people around them. I wish that people would trust science and actually give a crap about other people who they share this planet with. And yes, I do realize that I do sound extremely elitist and more than a tad condescending. But still, it’s how I feel.

But at the end of the day, I’m a pragmatist. If this helps increase vaccine uptake, the end result will benefit us all.

I’d be shocked if this were to happen in my own country, but it appears that several other countries have chosen the same route.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/14/a-gold-nose-pin-boxes-of-eggs-or-a-tax-rebate-covid-vaccine-incentives-around-the-world

https://fortune.com/2021/05/28/covid-vaccine-lottery-psychology-government-incentives-cash-payout/

203bravo, MSN, APRN · Jun 5, 2021

Thank you for sharing.. definitely worth sending CVS an entry card :)

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jun 6, 2021

Rewards after you get your vaccine

10% off a purchase after getting vaccinated at one of these locations

Acme
Albertsons
Carrs
Haggen
Jewel-Osco
Safeway
Randalls
Pavilions
Star Market
Tom Thumb
United Supermarkets
Vons
Shaws

Kroger: Sweepstakes to win $1 million and free groceries for a year

Publix: $125 gift cards

Target: $5 off your purchase after getting vaccinated in a CVS based in a Target store

List of Companies offering paid-time off to employees and companies offering money to vaccinated employees.

NFL providing 50 free Super Bowl LVI tickets to vaccinated fans -- fans will have to share their story of why they decided to get the vaccination or why they will be getting vaccinated soon.

203bravo, MSN, APRN · Jun 6, 2021

13 hours ago, NRSKarenRN said:

List of Companies offering paid-time off to employees and companies offering money to vaccinated employees.

Some of these companies are being very generous

**CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN** · Jun 6, 2021

I had a very nervous patient in a while back. She said “I’m getting vaccinated because I work as an aide. The agency said they’ll give me 25 dollars if I get the shot.” So I said “Oh that’s pretty good!” And she said “My life is worth more than $25 dollars!” It made me chuckle. But she did get the shot.

NurseBlaq · Jun 6, 2021

I'm uneasy about vaccines being monetized. They didn't do this when parents were gung ho about not vaccinating their children resulting in a resurgence of thought to be eradicated diseases/viruses. What makes this one so special? There's just something not sitting right about this. We've seen this before in history and here it is repeating itself. If they're so sure of these vaccines, why make it so the companies can't be held liable for future issues if they arise? I'm not comfortable with throwing money at people desperate enough to not think things through for a little bit of money.

Not to mention, if they had this money to throw at people all along why wasn't it used to help people when things were shut down? All I see are companies who held out when people needed it the most and are now using it as bargaining tools to control people. People should get the vaccine because they want it, and people should have the right to not get it without being stigmatized and shamed. There's more shaming for not getting this vaccine than there was before a vax and people refused to wear masks at the height of the pandemic. Why? What about the people who can't get vaxxed because it's contraindicated? What about the people who got vaxxed and still got sick because it's lost effectiveness or there was a different strain?

There are far more questions than answers and yet people out here allowing greed to supersede any logical thought out of desperation. I don't like it.

**CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN** · Jun 6, 2021

9 minutes ago, NurseBlaq said:

I'm uneasy about vaccines being monetized. They didn't do this when parents were gung ho about not vaccinating their children resulting in a resurgence of thought to be eradicated diseases/viruses. What makes this one so special? There's just something not sitting right about this. We've seen this before in history and here it is repeating itself. If they're so sure of these vaccines, why make it so the companies can't be held liable for future issues if they arise? I'm not comfortable with throwing money at people desperate enough to not think things through for a little bit of money.

Not to mention, if they had this money to throw at people all along why wasn't it used to help people when things were shut down? All I see are companies who held out when people needed it the most and are now using it as bargaining tools to control people. People should get the vaccine because they want it, and people should have the right to not get it without being stigmatized and shamed. There's more shaming for not getting this vaccine than there was before a vax and people refused to wear masks at the height of the pandemic. Why? What about the people who can't get vaxxed because it's contraindicated? What about the people who got vaxxed and still got sick because it's lost effectiveness or there was a different strain?

There are far more questions than answers and yet people out here allowing greed to supersede any logical thought out of desperation. I don't like it.

I do agree with this overall. A free donut to get vaccinated is one thing, but payment is another. I am a big believer in public education campaigns— allay people’s fears if you have the research to do so, rather than giving them a check so that they ignore their fears.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2021

I think it's unfortunate that people need more incentive than ending a global pandemic, but if that is what it takes, then so be it. I also think people should be willing to fund schools and roads, but if a lotto funds these things, what is the harm? We all understand that prevention is much cheaper than treatment. Money spent on prizes is far less than paying for hospitalization and rehabilitation.

As for companies giving out incentives instead of helping people, I think that is inaccurate. Kroger for one, actually gave hazard pay to workers. And I think most companies tried to protect essential workers by following CDC guidelines. It's not like grocery stores could shut down altogether.

You can say monetized while I say incentivized. Yeah, we didn't pay kids to get vaccines, but I used to give suckers and stickers to kids. My parents didn't need any incentive for me to get a polio vaccine, they were relieved and proud!

I don't understand this idea about being able to sue a vaccine manufacturer. That is certainly not what drives them to assure safety. And the "Vaccine Court" is available to those who think they were injured, and the level of evidence needed is pretty low.

Perhaps my area is different than yours, but I don't see any shaming for not vaccinating, in fact around here, you are shamed for getting vaccinated and for wearing a mask.

NurseBlaq · Jun 6, 2021

24 minutes ago, nursej22 said:

I think it's unfortunate that people need more incentive than ending a global pandemic, but if that is what it takes, then so be it. I also think people should be willing to fund schools and roads, but if a lotto funds these things, what is the harm? We all understand that prevention is much cheaper than treatment. Money spent on prizes is far less than paying for hospitalization and rehabilitation.

My state has no lottery, so we do fund those things via taxes. And lotto funds for one or two people to get a vax would go a long way to help many going homeless or hungry but that's just the way my civility is set up I guess. Prevention was wearing masks and isolating but that didn't happen and it wasn't mandated and people weren't rewarded. Matter of fact, the opposite occurred and they went homeless, hungry, and desperate. Have you been on Earth?

As for companies giving out incentives instead of helping people, I think that is inaccurate. Kroger for one, actually gave hazard pay to workers. And I think most companies tried to protect essential workers by following CDC guidelines. It's not like grocery stores could shut down altogether.

Kroger is one company and everyone doesn't work in a grocery store. Hospitals never close, grocery stores do. Matter of fact, many businesses closed and people have been losing homes, cars, etc. So what part of that did you miss?

You can say monetized while I say incentivized. Yeah, we didn't pay kids to get vaccines, but I used to give suckers and stickers to kids. My parents didn't need any incentive for me to get a polio vaccine, they were relieved and proud!

You're really comparing suckers and stickers to millions of dollars and college tuition? Really?

I don't understand this idea about being able to sue a vaccine manufacturer. That is certainly not what drives them to assure safety. And the "Vaccine Court" is available to those who think they were injured, and the level of evidence needed is pretty low.

If you have side effects that were hidden you're damn right we should be able to sue. Also, as I said, if the vax are working properly and they stand by them why are they already protected via legislation? You do know it's not unheard of for medical companies to lie right?

Perhaps my area is different than yours, but I don't see any shaming for not vaccinating, in fact around here, you are shamed for getting vaccinated and for wearing a mask.

Your area is different, however, it's happening on the internet and beyond. There are people calling for the vax to be mandated as if everyone is supposed to, or able to, form a single file line and just get the vax like we're robots in a factory.

I feel as if you're being intentionally obtuse, don't really understand how serious this is, or just being pessimistic or going out of your way to be simple. I refuse to believe you really don't understand the dismissiveness in some of the comments you posted. ?

nursej22, MSN, RN · Jun 7, 2021

4 hours ago, NurseBlaq said:

I feel as if you're being intentionally obtuse, don't really understand how serious this is, or just being pessimistic or going out of your way to be simple. I refuse to believe you really don't understand the dismissiveness in some of the comments you posted. ?

People calling for a vaccine mandate are not mocking the unvaccinated, they are trying to protect the population that cannot receive a vaccine. I have been called names and declared stupid, a kool-aid drinker and a sheeple on social media because I urged people to mask and get vaccinated. Demonstrators regularly show up at our vaccine clinics with signs declaring us to be baby-killers. So no, I don't think I'm being obtuse. I think you are the one who is being dismissive.

My state is giving away a total of $2,000,000 dollars. I estimate that is equivalent to 10 hospitalizations for COVID. And many of those hospitalization are for the elderly and disadvantaged and funded by the government. If incentives gets a 1000 more people vaccinated and prevent 100 hospitalizations and a death, I say it is worth it.

Yes my state has a lottery. I call it a tax on people who can't do math. And my state has put a lot of money into supporting people who cannot work or are in danger of losing their homes. We also got checks from the federal government and enhanced unemployment benefits. Small businesses got forgivable loans. See, all those things and incentives can happen, too.

Yes, medical companies lie and cover up, but I think it would be pretty hard to do that with these vaccines. Can you think of any other pharmaceutical that is a closely watched as COVID vaccines? I can't.

If you don't approve of companies offering incentives then I suggest you don't patronize them. If you happen to win a prize, give it to someone you think is more deserving. I didn't need the government payouts from last year, so I used them to support local businesses and the food bank. If I win my state's prize, I will give that away too.

Is getting money or a truck or something else of value the wrong reason to get a vaccine? Of course it is. But at this point, I say do what is legal to get shots in arms.

COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives

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