A $3-million COVID-19 vaccine lottery is an efficient funding to encourage vaccine-hesitant Albertans to get the shot and maintain Alberta’s reopening plans on observe, says Premier Jason Kenney.
The “Open for Summer season” vaccine lottery, first introduced on Saturday, will characteristic three prizes value $1 million every. Solely vaccinated Albertans will be capable of win.
When curiosity in first doses started to wane dramatically this month, Kenney mentioned he requested his staff to get artistic and the lottery appeared like the right incentive.
“The impetus for the lottery is to get as many individuals vaccinated as quickly as doable,” Kenney mentioned throughout a information convention Monday.
“Daily that goes by that we’ve lots of of hundreds of individuals that aren’t vaccinated, it opens us as much as a sure diploma of threat. We had very robust demand for first doses till about 10 days in the past. And we noticed it drop excellent off.”
‘Have not taken the plunge’
Provincial polling means that about 85 per cent of Albertans are open to getting vaccinated, Kenney mentioned.
“There at all times shall be some who won’t ever get a vaccine of any variety. No reality and no plea to civic duty will sway them,” Kenney mentioned.
“However we additionally know that there are many individuals who wish to get vaccinated or are pondering exhausting about it however they simply have not taken the plunge but. We actually have to push exhausting to encourage the 15 per cent who wish to get vaccinated or are open to it however haven’t but gotten round to it.”
Well being Minister Tyler Shandro mentioned the lottery, impressed by related attracts in the USA and one in Manitoba, pays for itself by clamping down on case charges.
“COVID has already price us billions and this lottery is geared toward lowering the fee going ahead to particular person Albertans who’re nonetheless susceptible to getting sick and to all of us as a province,” Shandro mentioned. “That is an funding in Albertans and in our province’s future. We have to beat the virus as soon as and for all.
Not everyone seems to be as optimistic although.
Dr. Stephanie Smith, an infectious illness doctor on the College of Alberta Hospital, characterised the lottery as a gimmick.
She mentioned the province is “throwing cash” on the downside of vaccine hesitancy, a fancy problem that will not be simply solved by money incentives.
“There’s lots of people who haven’t gotten a vaccine thus far as a result of they’re hesitant, they’ve considerations in regards to the security or the efficacy,” she mentioned.
“And for these individuals, I actually do not assume giving them no matter it’s, a one in 1,000,000 likelihood to win cash, is definitely going to make a giant distinction.”
Restriction-free Canada Day?
Stage 3 will start two weeks after 70 per cent of eligible Albertans have had at the very least one dose of vaccine. In an effort to launch that last stage for Canada Day, that focus on have to be reached by this Thursday, Kenney mentioned.
The province is at the moment 48,000 first-dose appointments away from reaching that aim.
Greater than 68.7 per cent of eligible Albertans have obtained their first dose, together with 20.2 per cent who’re absolutely vaccinated. With 60,429 appointments booked over the following seven days for first doses, Alberta is projected to hit the 70 per cent milestone on June 18, Kenney mentioned.
Kenney mentioned the province has executed all it may to encourage vaccinations with pop-up clinics, weekend vaccination drives and focused vaccine deliveries in properties, care centres and distant communities.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney hopes the $3 million COVID-19 vaccine lottery will get the eye of those that are but to get the primary dose. 2:07
Albertans can register on-line at Alberta.ca/lottery. They solely have to register as soon as. Registration for the primary draw launched on-line Monday and can shut one week after 70 per cent of eligible Albertans get their first dose.
The winner of the primary draw shall be introduced on the primary day of the Stage 3 re-opening.
A second draw, to be held Aug. 31, shall be open to Albertans who’ve obtained each pictures. The ultimate draw, additionally for absolutely vaccinated Albertans, has a tentative draw date of Sept. 30.
Further non-cash prizes shall be introduced between June 14 and September 30. Attracts for non-cash prizes will happen on numerous dates between June 14 and September 30, the province mentioned.
