Study shows vaccine lotteries may be ineffective

July 27, 2021 Amber Coakley US 0

Heidi Russell of Aurora, Colo., takes the facsimile of her check after a news conference Wednesday, July 7, 2021, to introduce the woman as the fifth and final $1-million winner in the state’s vaccine lottery at the governor’s mansion in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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UPDATED 9:54 AM PT – Tuesday, July 27, 2021

As more states introduce vaccine lotteries as an incentive to get vaccinated, some are questioning whether or not they actually work. Missouri is the latest state to offer a vaccine lottery as Gov. Mike Parson (R) unveiled Missouri VIP in an effort to encourage vaccination among “all Missourians ages 12 and up.”

Parson went on to add that over the next three months, 900 Missourians who have been or choose to be vaccinated will “win cash or education savings account prizes in the amount of $10,000.” Drawings will range from August 13 to October 8 and Missourians will be eligible once they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Additionally, local public health agencies will receive funds to provide up to $25 in incentives for each individual that chooses to get vaccinated,” stated the Missouri governor.

BREAKING: @GovParsonMO just announced Missouri’s Vaccine Incentive Program – MO VIP – which will reward 900 lucky Missourians who have chosen or will choose to be vaccinated. We will draw random winners to win $10k cash or a $10k education savings account depending on your age. pic.twitter.com/Hld5FMtfvh

— Mo Health & Sr Srvcs (@HealthyLivingMo) July 21, 2021

While several states have said their vaccination lotteries have been successful, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that vaccine lotteries, particularly Ohio’s, didn’t make a huge impact on getting more people vaccinated. In the study, they looked at vaccination rates before and after Ohio’s Vax-a-Million drawing, announced in May, that gave people the chance to win one of five $1 million prizes.

The study also compared Ohio’s vaccination rates with numbers of vaccinations across the U.S. and “controlled for potential contributing factors.” While the results said they did not “find evidence” that Ohio’s lottery-based incentive raised adult COVID-19 vaccinations, some say there may be several reasons for people opting to not to get the vaccine.

Parson hopes the Missouri vaccine lottery will push more people to get vaccinated as he recognizes some are unsure about the decision.

“We know right now there’s going to be a hesitancy, whether it’s in Missouri or any other state,” he stated. “We also know there’s people on the border line whether to get it or not.”