Free Beer Offer Boosts Vaccination Rates
The Claim
Free beer offer was significantly effective in incentivizing people to get COVID-19 vaccines.
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Emerging story
In an effort to get more residents of Erie County, New York vaccinated, county officials created the “Shot and a Chaser” program, which entitles vaccine recipients to one free alcoholic beverage. Other breweries and restaurants will be hosting this program for the rest of the month.
Misbar’s Analysis
Our analysis found that it’s true that offering incentives for vaccination can be effective. At the Resurgence Brewing Company, which started the free drink offer Eerie County, the experiment has been successful: The owner told NPR that while other local vaccine sites were only serving about a handful of people a day, they did around 150. In one randomized survey from UCLA roughly a third of unvaccinated people said they more likely to get the shot if they were offered a monetary payment.
Use of alcohol as an incentive has not been exclusive to Erie County; other areas, such as Washington D.C. and New Jersey, have introduced similar programs successfully. Some places have even offered free marijuana (where it is legal). West Virginia and Maryland have gone as far as offering monetary compensation: $100 savings bonds for young people in West Virginia, and $100 payouts for state employees in Maryland.
Public health officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of mass vaccination as the most effective and ethical way of reaching herd immunity. Despite this, the rate of vaccinations in the United States has been steadily declining across the board since peaking on April 13. This trend stands in contrast to the availability of vaccines, which has increased dramatically since they were first made widely available in the beginning of 2021. Some states, such as Florida and New York, even have walk-in vaccination sites.
Despite being readily accessible, some citizens remain skeptical of vaccines. A select few are outright hostile towards it, citing false conspiracy theories on how the vaccines are actually part of a secret hidden agenda to control the populace. Others are hesitant to take the vaccine due to concerns over side effects and health risks, but many in that demographic are not completely opposed to the vaccine. Some simply have not gotten around to getting their shots, but a little encouragement might just bring them around. Local efforts such as the Shot and a Chaser program have provided people with the excuse they need to get vaccinated and make their communities safer.
