Alberta considers incentives to help boost vaccination rates and the province's reopening plan
As the province continues the push to reach the 70 per cent mark of Albertans with their first COVID-19 vaccination dose, ideas around incentives are beginning to take shape.
On Friday, Alberta reported 67.8 per cent of the population aged 12 and over had received at least one dose.
At a media availability, Premier Jason Kenney said the province was "so close" to reaching the 70 per cent threshold needed to move toward Step 3 of the reopening plan.
- Alberta reports 170 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations continue to drop
- 'Welcome to Stage 2, Alberta': Province moves ahead in reopening plan, 2nd dose delivery ramped up
A part of the plan to help drive vaccination rates to meet that threshold and beyond could be vaccine incentives, the premier said.
“I know that when Ohio led the pack on this about three, four weeks back, there was a lot of ridicule towards them, but they saw an immediate and huge uptick in vaccination rates,” Kenney said on Thursday.
One expert also agrees that incentives may work, if done properly, to encourage people to get the jab.
“You want to make sure you’re incentivizing the right message," said Tim Caulfield, professor and health policy expert at the University of Alberta.
"You want to make sure you’re not sending the message that ‘we’re paying you to do this to get the vaccine."
Many businesses in Alberta have already created incentives of their own, from free food and beverages to free tuition, for those who have received their COVID-19 immunization.
- At some local businesses, your COVID-19 shot can get you more than just immunity
- Beers, burgers, books and bucks: Alberta businesses offer rewards for a COVID-19 shot
- Vaccinated University of Lethbridge students could win free tuition
- 'No stone unturned': Alta. considering every option to ensure as many get vaccinated for COVID-19 as possible
Caulfield says that there’s some evidence from the United States to show that incentives work when it comes to encouraging people to get vaccinated, especially with those individuals that are complacent.
“Those individuals that might be somewhat hesitant, this might change the calculus for them,” said Caulfield. “For those individuals that are hardcore deniers, it’s probably not going to have an impact.”
Caulfield says there’s evidence to suggest that misinformation around the COVID-19 vaccination could be having an impact on uptake.
“I think It’s important to emphasize the degree to which this is crunch time,” said Caulfield. “The degree to which we have to think about every single barrier that might be stopping people from getting vaccinated.”
Government officials are planning to announce details about the province’s vaccine incentives next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Pastrnak scores winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in overtime in Game 7
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
A driver dies after crashing into a security barrier around the White House complex, authorities say
A driver died after a vehicle crashed into an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, and the incident late Saturday was being investigated as a traffic crash, police said. U.S. President Joe Biden was spending the weekend in Delaware, and the Secret Service said there was no threat to the White House.
Warren Buffett says AI may be better for scammers than society. And he's seen how
Warren Buffett cautioned the tens of thousands of shareholders who packed an arena for his annual meeting that artificial intelligence scams could become "the growth industry of all time."