Incentive Palooza: CVS and Several States offer Big Prizes to help in the COVID-19 Vaccine Push

The CVS pharmacy chain is helping President Joe Biden’s push to get 70% of Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 by Independence Day, promising customers prizes ranging from tropical cruises to a trip to Superbowl LVI if they get shots.  The move by CVS, which has over 9,600 pharmacies across the United States, adds to the range of incentives being offered by states and companies desperate to get vaccination rates up and American life back to some degree of normality.   The CVS scheme will run from June 1 and feature gift cards and prizes from consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, dating app Hinge and Norwegian Cruise Line in a series of weekly sweepstakes.

But that’s just the tip of the incentive iceberg.  Several states have started offering major cash and prizes to try and stimulate residents to continue to get vaccinated against Covid-19, as those initially promising numbers have begun to dwindle in recent weeks.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine earlier this month offered baseball tickets and beer as well as a Vax-a-Million campaign, where five people 18 years or older will win $1 million each, while five 12- to 17-year-olds will each win a four-year scholarship to public college or university in the state.  The first winner was announced May 27th.  Ohio said vaccinations in the state increased 94% among 16- and 17- year-olds, 46% among 18- and 19-year-olds and 55% among those between 20 and 49 years old after Gov. Mike DeWine announced the lotteries.

Governor Jared Polis has unveiled the Colorado Comeback Cash Vaccine Drive, a five-week sweepstakes that will award five people $1 million each for getting a vaccine.

New York’s “Vax & Scratch” program states that anyone who received a vaccine at a state vaccination site between May 24 and May 28 had a chance to win $5 million or other smaller monetary prizes.  And New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced that the state would raffle off 50 four-year scholarships to any public college or university in the state for people between 12 and 17 years old who receive the vaccine.

In New Jersey, people age 18 or older can enter a drawing to win a free dinner with Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, as well as raffling off free state park passes as incentives for residents to get the vaccine.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced last week that 30 Californians 12 years and older have a chance to win $50,000 if they complete their vaccination. Additionally, the first 2 million people to begin and complete their vaccinations starting May 27 will automatically receive a $50 prepaid or grocery card.

Delaware residents 18 years and older who get vaccinated between May 25 and June 29 will have a chance to win a variety of cash and other prizes, including vacations and free tolls.

In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced on May 13 that Six Flags Great America will offer 50,000 free tickets — valued at $4 million — to newly vaccinated residents.

Residents 18 and older in Oregon will have the chance to win $1 million or one of 36 $10,000 prizes if they receive at least one dose of the vaccine by the drawing date.

Governor Jim Justice announced back in April that people aged 16 to 35 who get vaccinated in West Virginia can receive an $100 savings bond.

Andy Slavitt, the White House senior advisor for COVID-19 response, said he supported vaccine incentives during a press briefing on May 25. More than half of all U.S. adults have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but the pace of vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks due to ambivalence or skepticism about the medication and declining infections. President Biden has set a national goal to get 160 million U.S. adults fully vaccinated and at least one shot administered to 70% of adults by the Fourth of July.

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