Roll up and save: Chinese district offers millions in shopping vouchers for Covid-19 vaccinations

Residents of Daxing in Beijing will qualify for discounts at participating stores if they show they have had the shots

The incentives are part of the country’s efforts to expand inoculations to reach herd immunity

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The uptake of vaccinations in China has been slow due to a low risk of infection. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30pm, 24 Mar 2021Updated: 8:30pm, 24 Mar 2021

A district in Beijing is trying to encourage coronavirus vaccinations by giving out over 200 million yuan (US$30.7 million) in shopping discount vouchers to residents who opt to get the jabs.

China aims to have 40 per cent of its population inoculated by the end of July and 80 per cent vaccinated by the middle of next year, a level that should curb disease spread in a community.

But the uptake of vaccinations in China has been slow due to a low risk of infection.

“To build herd immunity protection faster, Daxing district is fully promoting the vaccination campaign,” the district’s cybersecurity administration said on its WeChat account.

“Starting from 24 March, Daxing will provide over 200 million yuan in shopping discounts to those who have completed their two Covid-19 vaccine shots.”

The district said 28 supermarkets would give shopping vouchers to customers who could show that they had completed the vaccination process.