California is to offer $116.5 million in cash along with gift cards to those residents who gets vaccinated against COVID-19. The only catch to this statement is that there is a deadline which is set as June 15. It is till now, the most lucrative incentive set by the U.S. Government and is offered to motivate the citizens, especially the vaccine-sceptics, to get vaccinated.
The State has the plan to reopen to its full extend on June 15th. This date is hence selected to be the deadline for citizens to get vaccinated and thereby stand the chance to be the one to win the $1.5 million. A lottery system will be followed to select the individual and 30 other people will also be selected who will receive $50,000 each. The desperation of the state is evident from these offers. This is a move that Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has taken to boost vaccinations before the state reopens.
Gift cards will also be distributed. According to the State, the first two million Californians who get vaccinated, beginning Thursday, will receive $50 gift cards for cash or groceries.
Dr Tomas Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health, commented regarding the same matter, “Some Californians weren’t ready to get their COVID-19 vaccine on day one, and that’s OK.” He further added that “This program is designed to encourage those who need extra support to get vaccinated and help keep California safe.”
On Thursday, Newsom, at a news conference in Los Angeles said that all Californians, with just a few exceptions in hand, who got vaccinated since the time vaccinations were first available in the state will be entered into drawings for the larger prizes.
The incentives are being offered as a result of Newsom fighting off a recall campaign that has become a cause celebre among Republicans nationwide. It is one of many ways through which Newsom plans to spend an unprecedented state budget surplus.
“Getting every eligible Californian vaccinated is how we bring our state roaring back from this pandemic,” Newsom said.
Across the United States, different states and private organizations have come up offering incentives to persuade people to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, which has taken away nearly 3.7 lives worldwide.
