Shots For Shots: States Offer Perks Like Booze, Cash For Vaccine

ACROSS AMERICA — Whether it’s cash or beer or summer concerts, state and local governments are leaving no idea on the table as they try to entice millions of Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine.

The strategy of offering unique incentives comes as public health experts predict that the United States is unlikely to achieve herd immunity and an alarming number of Americans say they’re still unwilling to get the vaccine.

Nationwide, approximately 14 percent of Americans have indicated they will not get vaccinated, and another 20 percent acknowledged they are uncertain whether they'll get the shot, a study by Morning Consult found.

On top of that, daily vaccination numbers are slipping.

After the United States hit a record high of 4.6 million doses administered on April 10, daily inoculations have fallen more than 40 percent, USA Today reported.

But officials are far from accepting those numbers. Here are a few creative ways states are enticing people to roll up their sleeves and get the coronavirus vaccine:

1. West Virginia offers savings bonds.

Health officials in West Virginia are specifically targeting young people, tempting the state’s more than 380,000 residents between the ages of 16 and 35 with a $100 savings bond.

"Our kids today probably don't really realize just how important they are in shutting this thing down," West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said during a recent news briefing, CBS News reported. "I'm trying to come up with a way that's truly going to motivate them — and us — get over the hump."

The total cost of the incentive would be about $27 million, all of which would come from the state’s allocation funds through the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

Justice, a Republican, anticipated some would criticize his vaccination plan, he told The Washington Post.

“But if I’m able to pull this off and we are able to shut this down for the small price of $27.5 million . . . I would tell those critics to kiss my butt,” he said.

Earlier this week, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced that all state employees who were fully vaccinated would receive a $100 cash incentive. The program has only one caveat: Individuals who refuse subsequent booster vaccinations after receiving the incentive will be required to repay it to the state.

"Incentives like this are another way to reinforce the importance of getting vaccinated, and we strongly encourage businesses across the state to consider offering incentives to their workers as well,” Hogan said in a news release.

• RELATED: Maryland Employees Rewarded With $100 For Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
  

2. New Jersey and Connecticut residents get free beer.

New Jerseysans who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine have another perk to look forward to besides protecting themselves against COVID-19: a free beer.

Anyone 21 and older who receives their first shot in May can show their Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-issued vaccine card for a free beer at select New Jersey breweries.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced the "Shot and a Beer" program as a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Health and the Brewers Guild of New Jersey during a news briefing this week.

The incentive is part of "Operation Jersey Summer," an effort to increase vaccinations statewide.

• RELATED: 12 Places Giving Free Beer And COVID Vaccine In NJ
  

Connecticut is also offering a free cold one to anyone who is fully vaccinated against the virus.

Through a partnership with the Connecticut Restaurant Association, the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign is hoping to reward fully vaccinated residents with a free beer. All they have to do is show their vaccine card at participating restaurants throughout the state.

Connecticut’s promotion will run from May 19-31.

3. Louisiana is holding vaccination “events” at bars.

Only one-third of Louisiana’s population has received a dose of the coronavirus vaccine. While the state has mass vaccination clinics, it’s not easy for some state residents to get to them.

Some are trying to make it a little easier for residents by bringing the shots to them.

The "Shots for Shots" program, run by telehealth company Relief, is giving vaccines in bars throughout Louisiana. In fact, bartender Kurtis Johnson had a Moderna shot waiting for him when he went to work for his shift, he told CBS News.

"Well, the convenience is what spoke to me most today. The fact that it's literally 5 feet away from me. I work late nights. So I've just never found the time or been too exhausted to go out," he told CBS.

Louisiana State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter told CBS the state is administering less than 70 percent of the first doses delivered from the federal government.

"We're taking the kitchen sink approach here," Kanter said. "No idea is bad. Every idea is worth considering."

4. Cities are getting creative, too.

Cities are also jumping on the incentive bandwagon. In Detroit, anyone who gives someone a ride to a vaccine site will receive a $50 gift card from the city.

In Chicago, city officials announced they will host a summer concert series this year — but the shows are only open to vaccinated residents.

Finally, in Harris County, Texas, officials recently approved spending up to $250,000 on gift cards, events and other incentive programs in order to increase vaccine participation among residents.

Harris County includes Houston, which is home to more than 2.3 million people.

“We desperately need these people to get vaccinated, particularly the young people,” County Judge Lina Hidalgo told the Houston Chronicle. “I asked you to be as creative as we possibly can because I don’t want to sit here a month from now and see the numbers worsen, or see this pandemic extended, and say, ‘If we had just done X, would we have avoided this situation?’”

5. How successful will these incentives be?

So, will these enticements work? Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Brown University who specializes in public health research, thinks they might.

“As humans, we often respond better to carrots than sticks,” she told The Times.

A recent survey experiment by UCLA’s COVID-19 Health and Politics Project shows that two strong incentives have emerged. What appeals to you might also be tied to your political leanings.

A cash reward appears to work best with Democrats, while relaxing safety guidelines seems to motivate Republicans, according to a separate report by The Times citing the survey.

The ongoing survey has interviewed more than 75,000 people over the last 10 months.