Opinion | A US$1 million vaccination lottery might just convince Hongkongers to get their jabs

Ohio is offering US$1 million to five lucky lottery winners who have had at least one jab. It is an idea well worth copying; if there’s one incentive Hongkongers understand, it’s cash

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A woman walks past a poster advertising the vaccination programme outside a community vaccination centre in Hong Kong on April 26. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 6:45am, 19 May 2021Updated: 7:32am, 19 May 2021

A government official telling people to get vaccinated doesn’t work; if it did, we would already be approaching blanket Covid-19 immunisation in Hong Kong.

Instead, almost three months after the first free vaccines became available, the figures are woeful. Just 18 per cent of Hongkongers have had one shot and 12.3 per cent have had both.

Authorities have so far been unable to convincingly define what a patriot is, but I would suggest that being one requires enough love for the city and the country to get the requisite two jabs.

But let’s not put jingoistic thoughts into the heads of officials; they have made getting vaccinated a matter of choice, so can’t force people to get a jab without good reason. That is despite there being many good points as to why making the effort is worthwhile.

Am I being selfish in suggesting a few of my own? I want to travel overseas, be able to enjoy live music again, gather in groups bigger than four and go to beaches, swimming pools and fitness centres without finding them closed due to an unexpected localised coronavirus outbreak. That is aside from the simple fact that it is necessary to ensure the economy can recover.

Authorities have hit on the idea of mandatory testing of groups perceived as being at greater risk of infection as a way of convincing people to get vaccinated. Those who have been fully immunised are exempt from screening. It would be an ingenious strategy were it not for the fact that testing is provided for free.

It is a sore point for me where the mandatory screening of domestic helpers is concerned; I don’t have or need a maid, so do not know why my tax money is going towards helping someone have their cooking and cleaning done for them. Testing and vaccination should be a matter between maids and their employers and either one should pay the HK$250 for each screening.

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Ohio is offering US$1 million to five lucky lottery winners who have had at least one jab. It is an idea well worth copying; if there’s one incentive Hongkongers understand, it’s cash

Ohio is offering US$1 million to five lucky lottery winners who have had at least one jab. It is an idea well worth copying; if there’s one incentive Hongkongers understand, it’s cash