How can more people get vaccinated against Covid-19? Rewards like those that have long been common in other countries are conceivable – from winnings of millions to free beer.
The vaccination campaign in Germany is progressing: Well over half of the total population has already received at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19, and more than 42 percent are already fully vaccinated. But in the race against time and especially the particularly contagious delta variant, Germany threatens to fall behind again. To achieve herd immunity, around 80 percent of the population would have to be vaccinated.
The pace of vaccination is decreasing more and more: Instead of up to a million people a day, significantly fewer people were vaccinated per day at the beginning of July. The reasons for this can be varied. Some people do not even know that they can be vaccinated, others do not want to be vaccinated (yet), others cancel their vaccination appointments and prefer to enjoy the summer weather. Politicians and experts are therefore discussing additional vaccination incentives for citizens, for whom the medical protection against Covid-19 through vaccination does not seem tempting enough.
Economist suggests a € 500 reward for vaccination
One must “offer people more,” said the economist Nora Szech on Deutschlandfunk, for example, and spoke out in favor of “compensation” of 500 euros. These payments should also be made retrospectively to all those who have already been vaccinated. While financial incentives are probably the most obvious lure, other rewards for those willing to be vaccinated are also conceivable: museum tickets or just a more symbolic free drink, for example.
Other countries have long since implemented these ideas. Israel, for example, also vaccinated in bars and nightclubs to reach young people – they were given a non-alcoholic drink with their vaccination. The USA lures with donuts or even weapons, and there are also chances of a really big win: Some states hold a vaccination lottery in which a million dollars is raffled off among all people who get their first dose of vaccination. In Greece, young people between 18 and 25 years of age receive 150 euros for their vaccination, a so-called “freedom ticket” in recognition of their restrictions in the pandemic.
The population is critical of financial incentives
In Germany, the following still applies: Anyone who wants to be vaccinated does so for the general public and for their own protection. Incentives are set at most in a subtle way in the form of relaxation for vaccinated persons. Politicians are still skeptical about further measures. The SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach is more likely to “very creatively” reach people with vaccination offers, for example in shisha bars, as he suggested in the ZDF program “Maybritt Illner”. His party colleague Carsten Schneider sees the “greatest incentive” in helping children “to be able to go back to school in the fall and also to maintain our economic life”.
For the Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans, vaccination incentives are “definitely an option,” he told the ZDF “Morgenmagazin” – for example a raffle among those willing to be vaccinated. However, there is also great skepticism among the population. In Germany, according to a survey by the European Covid Survey, only 24 percent were in favor of a monetary amount and 21 percent for a meal voucher as an incentive.
Swell: / / / / DPA
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