The Canadian province of Alberta is aiming to increase its inoculation figures with a raffle. Dubbed the “Open for Summer Lottery,” the initiative boasts a substantial prize pool of 3 million Canadian dollars. Three fortunate individuals will each receive a tidy sum of one million, but there’s a stipulation – participants must have received at least a single vaccine dose to qualify.
This development coincides with a period where Alberta is experiencing a slight decline in its vaccination campaign, just as emerging strains threaten to hinder their advancements. They’ve achieved commendable progress, having administered millions of doses, but their objective is to reach the critical threshold of 70% of eligible individuals being vaccinated. They’re nearing their goal, but it appears they require an additional incentive.
This lottery concept is not entirely unprecedented. The United States and China have implemented comparable strategies to encourage vaccinations, yielding mixed results. Alberta’s Premier, Jason Kenney, appears confident, citing the effectiveness of these lotteries in other regions globally.
Naturally, not everyone is convinced. Certain specialists, like behavioral economist Robert Oxoby from the University of Calgary, suggest that allocating funds to address the issue might not be the ultimate remedy. He posits that individuals’ fundamental views on vaccines are challenging to alter, even with the allure of a million-dollar reward.
Timothy Caulfield, a scholar at the University of Alberta, further noted: “We’re not promoting this conduct out of duty, or peril, or a dearth of alternatives. We’re promoting it because it’s beneficial for your neighborhood.”
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