U.S. Pres. Joe Biden Offers New COVID Vaccine Incentives, Including Free Beer, Among Others
U.S. President Joe Biden is urging more Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before the Fourth of July holiday. The president had also announced new COVID Vaccine incentives, including free beer, childcare, and sports tickets to encourage Americans to get the vaccine.
Biden had set a vaccination goal of having 70 percent of the nation's adults vaccinated with at least one dose by July 4, according to a Fox News report.
The president noted that 52 percent of adults are now fully vaccinated, which includes 75 percent of all seniors. He added that the more people who get the vaccine, the more success there will be in handling the virus.
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COVID Vaccine Incentives
The COVID vaccine incentives that Biden announced on Wednesday include a round of free beer for Americans aged 21 and up once Biden's 70 goal is met.
The White House is also partnering with early childhood centers such as KinderCare, Learning Care Group, Bright Horizons, and more than 500 YMCAs to give free childcare coverage for vaccinated Americans needing assistance while recovering from side effects, according to an Associated Press report.
The administration will also be doing outreach efforts, with a new initiative called "Shots at the Shops", recruiting Black-owned barbershops and beauty shops to help with the outreach.
Other vaccine incentives include cash giveaways, sports tickets, and paid leave.
Certain states have also resorted to providing incentives for every resident that got their vaccine shots.
West Virginia plans to give away five custom hunting rifles and five custom shotguns through a lottery for people who are already vaccinated. The drawings will be taking place on June 20, according to a Forbes report.
The state will also hand out one resident $1 million, including other prizes such as full-ride scholarships, custom trucks, and lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.
Maryland had held the first of its $40,000 lottery drawings for people who got their vaccines.
Ohio is also offering cash prizes through "Vax-a-Million" lottery, according to a CNBC report.
Bob Bollinger, a professor of infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that incentives may become increasingly significant to amp the vaccination program.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom had also announced that 30 Californians 12 years and older have the opportunity to win $50,000 if they completed their vaccines.
U.S. Vaccine Sharing
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is also eyeing to share 80 million doses with the world this month.
Biden noted that people all over the world are needing to get a vaccine that every American can get at their neighborhood drugstore.
The rate of cases and deaths in the U.S. is at its lowest since the start of the pandemic last March. The reported average new cases fall at 16,000, with under 400 deaths every day.
As for the distribution of vaccines to other countries, the Biden administration will provide the bulk of the doses to COVAX, which is a United Nations-backed global vaccine sharing program.
The said program is meant to meet the needs of lower-income countries, according to another AP News report.
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