Do Lotteries, Prizes Convince People To Get COVID-19 Vaccines?
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The state Department of Health Services says around 47% of Arizonans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arizona is in the bottom half of states, in terms of the number of vaccinated residents per 100,000 in population.
In some states, officials are trying to entice residents to get the shots by offering money — in some cases lots of money — or other prizes.
Five Ohioans who get immunized will win $1 million lottery prizes. California, Colorado and other states have set up similar programs.
Arizona health officials say they’re not planning on anything like that, although Pima County has offered some incentives for residents there to get vaccinated.
The incentives have raised a lot of questions — both in terms of their ethics, but also their effectiveness.
Art Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. The Show spoke with him to learn how effective these incentives are.
