School nurse administering a vaccine to a masked student.
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Vaccine incentives: Do prize drawings and rewards increase vaccination rates?
Also on the program: Flight 93 National Memorial and the Flight 93 Heroes Award to recognize selfless acts of heroism
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Merideth Bucher
iStock
School nurse administering a vaccine to a masked student.
Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9am and 7pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”
Airdate: Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Pennsylvanians may be familiar with Gus the “spokesgroundhog,” selling instant scratch-off lottery tickets on TV. Nowadays, he may not be nearly as popular as the lottery offerings that are directed at the newly vaccinated.
Ohio made headlines with Vax-a-Million, where any Ohioan who has received a least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can enter to win a $1 million lottery prize drawing. Not to be outdone, New York, Maryland and California are also incentivizing vaccines through cash drawings. On Monday, Philadelphia joined the list of places running sweepstakes. Businesses are also getting in on the action: United Airlines is now offering frequent flier miles for the newly vaccinated.
Do lotteries and incentives actually increase vaccination rates? There is science behind the initiatives. Appearing on Smart Talk Tuesday to share details of their study are Nick Clark, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of Public Policy, Susquehanna University, along with Matt Rousu, Ph.D., Professor of Economics and Dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business, Susquehanna University.
Flight 93 Heroes Award to recognize selfless acts of heroism
As the country approaches the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania is working to keep the memory of that day alive.
They are sponsoring an annual award in honor of the heroes of Flight 93, who are credited with taking control of the highjacked jetliner targeting the U.S. Capitol Building, home to the United States Congress. The Flight 93 Heroes Award will recognize selfless acts of heroism and keep the memory alive of the sacrifice of the 40 passengers and crew members on that fateful flight.
Donna Gibson, President of the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial, will appear on Smart Talk Tuesday to offer details about the award and nation-wide nomination process.
