Editorial: Lottery may be ticket to get more vaccinated
Later today, someone in Washington state — specifically someone who has had at least one dose of one of the three covid-19 vaccines — will be $250,000 richer; less federal withholding, of course.
Another three $250,000 prize drawings will follow each week, concluding with a drawing for a $1 million prize. Other lottery prizes include airline tickets, tickets to sporting events, and — for those 17 and younger who aren’t eligible for the cash prizes — video game systems, smart speakers and a year’s worth of college tuition and other book and tuition assistance.
Washington state is among the latest states responding to dwindling demand for coronavirus vaccine by offering the lottery prizes as an incentive to convince those yet to receive their shot to roll up their sleeve.
It would be a point of pride if such incentives weren’t necessary; if those who were able to receive the vaccine stepped up on their own, without additional inducements beyond the vaccine being offered at no charge, itself. But we’ve seen a growing number of government and private sector incentives — literally, dollars to doughnuts — offered to convince those who were less-than-eager to get vaccinated. The offer to protect one’s own health and that of their families and the community ought to provide enough of a reason, but such persuasion has been around as long as there have been carrots. And sticks.
The latest data from the state Department of Health show that about 63 percent of state residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine; about 54 percent of those eligible — currently those 12 and older — are fully vaccinated. Gov. Jay Inslee earlier in the spring had set a goal to reopen the state fully by reaching either 70 percent of residents with at least one dose or by June 30, which ever came first. At the current rate, however, we may shave only a few days off the restrictions, if that.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-lottery-may-be-ticket-to-get-more-vaccinated/