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Editorial: Lottery approach sound

opinion editorial stock

As the first-dose vaccination rate has slowed there’s a need for several solutions.

Alberta has followed the lead of provinces such as Manitoba and a number of states south of the border in introducing a lottery system to incentivize eligible individuals to receive both the first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Premier Jason Kenney introduced the rules and regulations for the three lotteries in place all of which offer $1 million dollar cash prizes to individuals who have been vaccinated.

Some might say it shouldn’t have come to this point where this type of potential cash reward is needed to get doses in arms, that protecting ourselves and those around us is enough of a reason to get vaccinated.

That may be true, but this is the reality of the situation and we’re not getting into the next stage of the reopening without an uptick in first doses.

Alberta is nearing the 70 per cent threshold of eligible population with at least one dose, sitting at 68.8 per cent as of press time, but the rate of first doses has slowed to a crawl over the past few weeks.

There are a variety of barriers to access for folks who either aren’t easily able or choose not to get a dose.

We’ve seen a variety of approaches to tackle this issue from no-appointments first dose bookings now offered at a variety of sites to pop-up walk-in clinics at hot-spot areas, such as in the northeast quadrant of Calgary.

For the lottery, everyone who has a first dose within one week after 70 per cent of eligible Albertans have had their first dose is eligible for the cash prize.

Importantly, the second and third lotteries, which close in late-August and late-September, are tied to second doses which is an important step to help ensure folks get fully vaccinated and do so without too much delay.

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