States Offer Beer, Cash Incentives As Vaccine Demand Softens

Just as more states project that they have reached peak levels of vaccine demand, and governors like Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer come up with subtle ways to encourage reluctant adults to acquiesce, multiple states are experimenting with offering carrots, even a monetary reward.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday offered a $100 financial incentive to state employees who receive the vaccine.

Today I announced that the State of Maryland will offer a $100 financial incentive to state employees who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We strongly encourage businesses across the state to consider offering incentives to their workers as well.

Details: https://t.co/yo2F3Ctp0B

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 3, 2021

To receive the incentive, employees must provide their HR office with proof of vaccination, and agree to receive all subsequent CDC recommended booster vaccinations within 18 months of being fully vaccinated. The incentive is retroactive, so that all state employees who have already been fully vaccinated will also receive the $100 incentive payment.

“With this incentive program, we are further encouraging state employees to get vaccinated to help keep themselves, their families, and their communities healthy and safe,” said Governor Hogan. “Incentives like this are another way to reinforce the importance of getting vaccinated, and we strongly encourage businesses across the state to consider offering incentives to their workers as well. These vaccines are safe and effective, they’re free, and they’re readily available with or without an appointment.”

To receive the incentive, employees must provide their HR office with proof of vaccination, and agree to receive all subsequent CDC recommended booster vaccinations within 18 months of being fully vaccinated. The incentive is retroactive, so that all state employees who have already been fully vaccinated will also receive the $100 incentive payment.

And in order to ensure those who participate in the program follow through with all subsequent appointments, the state will require anyone who doesn’t receive their booster or any future doses required to fend off mutant strains to repay the $100.

To Maryland’s northern flank, New Jersey has offered its own take on enticements by offering adults who are 21+ a free beer (at any participating brewery) by displaying proof that they had been vaccinated.

💉SHOT AND A BEER🍺

Any New Jerseyan (age 21+) who gets their first vaccine dose in the month of May and takes their vaccination card to a participating brewery will receive a free beer.

CHEERS 🍻 pic.twitter.com/Ug0ljWOGv8

— New Jersey (@NJGov) May 3, 2021

the cash incentive for state employees isn’t the only strategy being used in Maryland. The city of Baltimore elicited laughter nationwide when it unveiled a new advertising campaign intended to encourage young adults to get the vaccine.

Mimosas with the girls this weekend? It’s a bad idea if you haven’t been vaxxed.

Visit https://t.co/S8vddiR44T or call 443-984-8650
M-F 8:30am-6:30pm, Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm #BALTIMOREvsCOVID
photo by @fizkes pic.twitter.com/NTtAaYirFX

— B’more City Health (@BMore_Healthy) April 30, 2021

YEAH DEBRA, LISTEN to your guilt trippy boyfriend, THE CITY OF BALTIMORE! pic.twitter.com/50MF1CIEtA

— Groo the Blunderer (@Dystopiantics) May 2, 2021

The message, that adults should be vaccinated before they start socializing again, was mocked because the ad resembles a poster for a woman’s refuge, as if the “Debra” character in the ad was embroiled in a domestic abuse situation with her boyfriend.

Others slammed the ad as idiotic.

YOU STILL AREN’T VAXXED, DEBRA! pic.twitter.com/ZocXhd2rxU

— Shelby S (@shelb_a_delb) May 2, 2021

After peaking north of 4 million a day in early April, the number of doses being administered per day has fallen by almost half, to just north of 2 million per day as of early May.

Source: Bloomberg

As we wait to see whether more states will follow in Maryland’s footsteps, we would like to know whether this will apply retroactively to state employees who have already been fully vaccinated?