States should pay people $100 to get vaccinated, according to Joe Biden

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According to the Treasury Department, the Biden administration wants states and local governments to provide $100 to “every newly vaccinated American.” It’s the latest official push to boost immunization rates as the extremely contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread across the country. States could fund the payments with money from the American Rescue Plan.

Although the incentive is not mandated by the administration, the Treasury Department said it is working with the Department of Health and Human Services to assist governments in implementing it.

New York City announced this week that it would give $100 to anyone who got a shot at one of the city-run vaccination sites. “I think when someone says here’s $100 for you, that’s going to make a big impact,” Mayor Bill De Blasio said on Wednesday. 

According to Elisa Sobo, an anthropologist at San Diego State University who studies vaccine reluctance, economic rewards may help persuade some people to get their shot.  “Some people who have until now been on the fence will see $100

as a good reason to get off of it.” But it won’t be an incentive for everyone. “Some folks will find the offer insulting; others will use it as ‘proof’ that the vaccine is no good.”

Since April, vaccination rates in the United States have been continuously declining. They’ve started to rise again as people in places with significant outbreaks and the lowest vaccination rates have begun to be vaccinated again.

Story By: Norvisi Mawunyegah