Germany: Financial incentives to increase vaccinations

Providing financial incentives to strengthen the arrival for vaccination suggest Germans academics and even refer to the example of Greece and the “Freedom Card” of 150 euros for young people 18-25 years old. At the same time, as the number of citizens willing to be vaccinated decreases, the number of proposals for “creative” ways to attract citizens to vaccination is increasing, according to APE.

“The social value of a vaccine is 1,500 euros,” said the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, and Nora Cech, an economist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, is proposing a 100-500-euro bonus. “With 100 euros, the will for vaccination will approach 80%. With 500 euros we will achieve 90% “, says the Czech in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, who claims that, according to her own study for the USA, large sums bring results, but an amount of $ 20 could even the opposite, limiting the willingness of citizens to be vaccinated. If “the social value of the vaccine is 1500 euros, a part of this amount must be paid to the citizens”, the researcher states and emphasizes that other countries, such as Greece, reacted earlier. “We are now at a point where the supply of vaccines exceeds the demand. “I think it is a pity that we waited so long, when this could have been dealt with weeks ago.”

Researchers Jan Snelenbach of Cottbus University and Eckhard Keller of the University of Siegen are also in favor of introducing an economic incentive for vaccination. “It should be something important, I think 200 or 300 euros,” Mr Snelenbach told FAZ, even proposing some “compensation” for those who have already been vaccinated or are urging friends and relatives to do so.

In addition to purely financial incentives, the debate also addresses other positive incentives, such as free admission to museums suggested by Liberal Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner, and the government has said it is looking for ways to make it easier for citizens to access. in vaccination. Health Minister Jens Spann said vaccinations could be staged in places such as soccer fields, churches and mosques, while Social Democrat (SPD) spokesman Karl Lauterbach suggested that mobile appointments and in crowded places, even near bars.

“Why not set up a vaccination unit in a mall?” Says Jan Snelenbach. “We need to do more for people who are willing to be vaccinated but are not ready to put in a lot of effort. “It is not considered normal for many to start complicated administrative procedures,” explains Nora Cech, while Mr. Snelenbach explains that those who were eagerly waiting to be vaccinated have already taken care of it. “Now these are the ones who are not against vaccines – they will not be convinced by the money anyway – but they are rather slow. “An immediate incentive will work better,” he explains.

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