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Businesses offering discounts to vaccinated
Five months have passed since the first Covid-19 vaccinations began to be administered. Vaccinations initially began to be offered to front-line workers and at-risk populations before it was announced that the US vaccinations program set the goal to vaccinate 100 million people by this April. Now that a significant proportion of the front-line workforce and at-risk populations have received both doses of the vaccine, the vaccine is now being offered to the general public. In reaction to the recent news, the private sector has begun implementing incentive programs in order to attract the business of vaccinated individuals.
Airlines, ride-sharing companies, and travel agencies are a few of the businesses implementing incentive programs. The efforts are intended to encourage more people to get vaccinated, which would help recover from the critical impact of the damages incurred in 2020.
Amongst the incentives being offered, a popular route taken by many companies is incentives intended to encourage employees to receive the vaccine. Employees at companies such as McDonald’s and Starbucks will receive additional pay after receiving both doses of the vaccine. Bonuses range anywhere from $100 to $500, and many offer $15 ride-sharing credit in order to assist employees in getting to and from vaccination sites.
Amongst airlines, United Airlines has been one of the first to offer incentives; however, there is a lottery aspect, and only a handful of participants stand to benefit. The initiative has been announced for vaccinated frequent fliers, who will be entered into sweepstakes programs. United Airlines plans to offer free travel, there and back, to destinations all over the world for selected candidates.
New York-based travel agency Favisbook has also initiated its own program. A popular visa services company that many travelers use in order to secure expedited visa appointments, Favisbook has pledged to offer a universal discount to all vaccinated customers who use their services.
Whether or not such incentive programs are universally acceptable, research has shown that they are effective. Vaccine skepticism is a significant roadblock preventing many people from getting the shot. However, the incentives offered in the private sector are expected to encourage many skeptics to get the shot.
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].
