Free beer, joints and trips for vax jabs

FREE joints and beer to the chance to win a million dollars are the carrots being dangled overseas for people to get a jab.

While Australian businesses have been given the go ahead to offer rewards to people who’ve been fully vaccinated – like frequent flyer points or discounts – the prizes pale in comparison to US offers.

A public health expert warns incentives could backfire and have an opposite effect.

In the US, legal cannabis shops are offering free joints to get the Covid jab – the promotion in Washington state is dubbed “joints for jabs” and is promising a “single pre-rolled joint” for everyone over 21 who gets a shot at a vaccine clinic.

Ohio took the lottery path, with a $1 million jackpot designed to combat vaccine hesitancy, with consolation prizes of full university scholarships.

If Joe Biden’s vaccination program is a success, the largest beer company in the States, Anheuser-Busch, is offering to buy the country a round of beers to celebrate the “pivotal moment” of reaching his goal of 70 per cent vaccinated by the Fourth of July celebrations.

Israel has had mixed success with its “green pass” – holders can access clubs, gyms, restaurants and attend weddings. But the country, which has a high level of vaccination, dropped it after people failed to follow rules such as mask use.

In Hong Kong, a $1.8m onebedroom apartment has been offered in a lottery, with 20 cash prizes of almost $20,000. Public servants and private sector workers are being tempted with paid for days off work.

University of Pennsylvania medical ethics professor Dr Emily Largent said there was a danger incentives could backfire if they distracted from the overall public health message.

“Incentives may cause some to perceive vaccination as riskier or more burdensome than it is.”