ONA Student Newsroom
  • Data reveal differences in return to in-person schooling
    • June 26, 2021
  • How three news start-ups approached innovation in 2020
    • June 22, 2021
  • Sports journalists, from left, Matt Musil of KHOW TV, Emily Giangreco of KVUE TV, and John Affleck, the Knight Chair for Sports Journalism at Penn State University.
    Virtual group interviews are changing sports coverage
    • June 22, 2021
  • In their memory: Pandemic offers opportunities to transform digital obits
    • June 21, 2021
  • COVID-19 vaccine incentives: do they work?
    • June 21, 2021
  • Home
  • ONA25 Conference
  • Online Journalism Awards
  • Member Log In
ONA Student Newsroom
  • About
  • Previous Coverage
    • ONA23: Philadelphia
    • ONA22: Los Angeles
    • ONA21: On Demand
    • ONA19: New Orleans
    • ONA18: Austin
    • ONA17: Washington
    • ONA16: Denver
    • ONA15: Los Angeles
    • ONA14: Chicago
    • ONA13: Atlanta
    • ONA12: San Francisco
  • COVID: Industry Issues

COVID-19 vaccine incentives: do they work?

  • Alaysja Clark
  • June 21, 2021
  • 3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0

Taking a COVID-19 vaccine could get you free tickets to Six Flags, a ride on The Talladega Superspeedway, or a chance to win a $1 million lottery.

Some states have initiated COVID-19 vaccine incentive programs to combat apathy among those who have yet to get the vaccine. Depending on where you live, you may register for several freebies that are federally and privately funded. 

This is not the first time incentives have been used in the public health sphere. 

Brittany Roy, program director of public health for the National Governors Association, believes that COVID-19 has hit a whole new scale for incentives. In an email, Roy said, “There have been incentives to reduce smoking or obesity and community-based organizations offering cash-incentive payments and gift cards to incentivize participation in research projects.” 

However, COVID-19 has forced the government to develop new and innovative incentives for this public health challenge. Some states began their incentive programs in May; others are rolling out new plans this month. 

Incentive programs vary from state to state, as do vaccination rates. Some states—with and without incentive programs—are struggling to get 50% of their population fully vaccinated while others have already exceeded 80 percent.

image of graphic of vaccine incentives by state.

What vaccine incentive is your state offering?

Explore this interactive built on Visme by ONA Student Newsroom’s Alaysja Clark

California currently has a $116.5 million vaccine incentive program, the most extensive incentive program in the country. Californians who are partially vaccinated, ages 12 and up, are automatically eligible for a cash prize drawing this month. When California announced its program on May 27, 42.2% of its population was fully vaccinated. As of June 17, that number has increased to 47.5%. That’s approximately 2.1 million people additional people who received the vaccine since the program was announced. 

“Governors have mentioned that some of these COVID-19 vaccination incentives have helped to drive vaccine uptake, particularly in rural areas,” said Roy. 

In California the vaccine incentive program seems to be working, but not every state can offer cash incentives.

In Texas, state law prohibits using monetary inducement to encourage people to get the vaccine. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appeared live on Dallas-Fort Worth’s NBC 5 on June 7 and said “We believe that everyone has the right to make their own decision to get a vaccine or not get a vaccine.”

Since late May, the vaccination rates in Texas have increased at the same rate as in California. Although their vaccine rates are lower, Texas has no plans for cash incentives. 

While Texas does not have plans for a cash incentive program state wide, Dallas County is considering cash incentives. The problem is that Texas law prohibits local government from gifting gifts of more than $25. In an interview, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins expressed his concerns with the law. The county is working with legal advisors to see what other incentives it can legally offer to northern Texas. 

According to Roy, states without incentive programs “are focusing on equity, access, communications, rural and under-resourced communities.” 

In Killeen, Texas, CC Stinson, an independent filmmaker, volunteered with her church to distribute the vaccine. In one weekend, she and other volunteers helped vaccinate over 500 Texans. With the help of AdventHealth, they had 80% of those with their first dose come back for their second. 

Families at the vaccination site told Stinson how comfortable they felt receiving the vaccine and information about it from someone in their community. 

The incentives and outreach efforts are part of the nationwide push to improve vaccination rates.

In early June, President Biden announced June as the “National Month of Action” to mobilize an effort to get 70% of U.S. adults at least one shot by July 4th. CDC vaccine rates show that as of June 15, 52.8% of Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Alaysja Clark

Previous Article
  • Hallway Track

These ONA attendees tested their knowledge of pop culture

  • Donovan Dooley
  • September 30, 2019
Read More
Next Article
Evan Brandt
  • Industry

COVID-19 reignites the desire for local journalism, but future remains uncertain

  • Jade Campos
  • June 21, 2021
Read More

Special thanks to our Sponsors

Microsoft logo

Tegna Foundation

Canva logo

Top Articles
  • 1
    Snapshots of Excellence: the 2023 Online Journalism Awards
    • August 27, 2023
  • 2
    Online Journalism Awards honor stellar work
    • August 26, 2023
  • 3
    ONA aims to boost attendance for this year’s award ceremony
    • August 26, 2023
  • 4
    DEI in the Newsroom: Meeting People Where They Are
    • August 26, 2023
  • 5
    Early morning alarm alerts hotel residents
    • August 26, 2023

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

ONA Student Newsroom
Daily conference coverage from ONA's student newsroom

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.