Q: My campus is trying to get 75% of the campus population vaccinated. How do we best encourage students, staff, and faculty to get vaccinated?
A: This is a wonderful goal that has been set by your college to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Reaching 70-75% vaccinated in a population is the best way to see rates of infection diminish. This will allow the immunity of the whole population to work together and prevent spread of the virus. There are incentive programs and ways of identifying proof of vaccination that are being tried in communities across the country. Let’s look at the most successful initiatives.
Education is key. People who know and understand the importance of vaccination are more likely to get the vaccine. Once questions are answered and fears allayed, a person is more likely to get vaccinated. Anecdotally, clinicians have noticed that it helps to provide information about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, what to expect after receiving the vaccine, and for how long.
Some states that experienced a lull in vaccination are offering a chance at lottery winnings for anyone who gets vaccinated. Ohio watched the numbers increase to their highest in three weeks after announcing a $5 million dollar lottery. Vaccinations for residents ages 30 to 74 spiked by 6 percent after weeks of steady decline. Winners have been announced already. So far, a 21-year-old resident won $1 million and a 14-year old won a full college scholarship.
Corporations have joined the effort to encourage people to get vaccinated. Several offer discounts and free items with proof of vaccination. Perks range from retailers giving free donuts and tacos to companies giving employees cash bonuses and paid leave. The official list can be seen here.
Proof of vaccination is required for some of the incentives offered by corporations. And there are creative ways of showing your status. Along with pins, buttons, wristbands, and t-shirts, social media has badges and filters you can add to your profile. “Vaccine passports” are a sensitive topic in some states. Though the federal government states it will not have a centralized reporting system, some states are developing digital COVID-19 vaccine records that you can access when you need to show proof. Here is a list of some states that have plans to address this option.
Congratulations to your college for its effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. We will be happy to hear updates on progress.
Ohio sees boost in shots after it announces $1 million vaccination lottery
