NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York City officials are discussing the possibility of launching a large-scale vaccination incentive program akin to the lottery Ohio unveiled last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.
At a news briefing Wednesday morning, a reporter asked de Blasio if he had “thought about doing some kind of big-ticket thing that would really get the numbers up,” like the $1 million lottery Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine launched to encourage vaccinations.
“Yeah, we are talking about whether that kind of approach would add something,” the mayor responded. “We’re looking at models around the country, and a lottery-type idea is real interesting. So we’ll be assessing that, and we’ll have more to say on that soon.”
DeWine last week announced that Ohio residents who had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot would be eligible to enter a lottery to score one of five $1 million prizes.
Two days after he made the announcement, the state reportedly recorded its highest number of daily vaccinations in three weeks.
De Blasio on Wednesday noted that the city has already rolled out a slew of vaccine incentives, including free tickets to a range of “iconic” attractions and free Shake Shack burgers or fries.
Improved ease of access to sites and appointments, however, may have played a larger role in bolstering the city’s vaccine rollout than incentives, he said.
“I think the number one reason that is happening is because we’ve made it ever-more convenient, more local, walk-in, mobile vaccination centers,” he said. “I think all of this is just making it real easy for people.”
“And I talk to people all the time who say, ‘Oh yeah, I’m just finally getting around to it. Oh yeah, you know, there’s some place now near me I’m going to go.’ I think that’s the driver right now,” he added. “[But] I think the incentives are also helping and generating a lot of interest and focus.”
Related
