Las Pinas Representative Camille Villar is holding a raffle for the residents of Kamara as an incentive for her constituents to get vaccinated. The Las Pinas Vaccine raffle essentially means anyone that gets vaccinated in the city is entered to join the raffle, which includes prizes like a house and lot plus two motorcycles. Aside from the major prize, the city will also be raffling off 10 “pangkabuhayan” showcases starting July for anyone that gets vaccinated. And before anyone cries foul, Villar says that all the prizes offered for the vaccine raffle were donated, with 0 gov’t funds used for the raffle.
The idea of dangling raffle prizes for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine isn’t unique to Las Pinas. Thanks to vaccine hesitancy brought about by a resurgence of anti-vaxxers, the proliferation of fake news about the effects and efficacy of vaccines developed against the disease, other countries have also resorted to using raffle incentives to get their citizens to accept jabs against COVID-19.
While Philippine mayors and congressmen are resorting to small-time prizes (including San Luis, Pampanga where the mayor is raffling off cows for jabs), states like Ohio are offering prize pools of 1$ million for one lucky winner. The strategy has so far been effective, with the state’s vaccination numbers increasing since the implementation of the raffle.
“We’re excited that this has inspired so many Ohioans to get vaccinated. There was a significant 94% increase among those in the 16 to 17 age range, a 46% increase from the 18 to 19 age group and there has been a 55% increase in vaccinations, in the 20 to 49 age group,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
It is yet to be seen if the efforts here in the Philippines will yield the same results, however, it is clear that officials are pulling all the stops to encourage the majority to respond against the virus through the vaccines that are available.
