Alberta Tries Million-Dollar Lottery to Boost Vaccination Rates

The Canadian province of Alberta is testing a novel strategy to combat stagnant immunization uptake: a lottery with a substantial prize. Three fortunate inhabitants will each get one million dollars through the “Open for Summer Lottery.” Residents above the age of 18 are only required to have had at least one dosage of a COVID-19 vaccine to be qualified.

This action occurs as Alberta struggles with a vaccination plateau just as new, more infectious strains are emerging. Despite the province’s distribution of millions of doses, daily figures have plateaued. The initial lottery drawing is contingent on achieving a 70% vaccination rate for those aged 12 and up, a target that Alberta is fast approaching.

The concept of employing lotteries to promote vaccination is not unprecedented. To persuade citizens to receive their initial doses, nations such as the United States and China have launched comparable initiatives. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney recognized this, claiming that such lotteries are being utilized globally to encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated.

However, not everyone believes in the efficacy of this strategy. Robert Oxoby, a behavioral economist, warns that financial incentives can only go so far. He contends that money cannot fundamentally alter people’s fundamental beliefs and cites years of study to back this up.

Timothy Caulfield, a scholar at the University of Alberta, also stated: “We aren’t promoting this conduct out of duty, or fear of consequences, or a dearth of alternatives. We’re promoting it because it benefits your neighborhood.”