People are being rewarded with cows, chickens, and fancy condos to get vaxxed

Nice.

June 17, 2021

People are being rewarded with cows, chickens, and fancy condos to get vaxxed

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I doubt it'll be a long-shot if I assume that you've got relatives or friends who are a little hesitant about getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

With all the disinformation spreading on the web, I can't blame them for being worried or paranoid. But at the same time, it's also up to us (you) to inform them of the real benefits.

If that isn't enough, perhaps the only way to get hesitant people vaccinated is to ease them in with bribes – or let's just call them incentives – in the form of valuable livestock, additional paid leave from work, and even a million-dollar apartment.

That method may seem like the result of some kind of fever dream but it isn't as farfetched as it sounds. It's actually being put to use in some parts of Asia.

In Thailand's Mae Chaem district in northern Chiang Mai, the offer of free cattle in exchange for getting vaccinated has been a real hit.

IMAGE: Reuters / The Straits Times

Most residents in the district are, logically, cattle farmers. And when you consider the fact that only 4.76 million people (out of the country's total population of 66 million) have received at least their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, there's a lot of catching up to do if authorities want herd immunity to be feasible.

So what do you do when you're in charge of a town full of cattle farmers that have yet to be vaccinated? Hold a cow raffle, of course.

IMAGE: Reuters

The free cattle campaign is well into its second week, and with 27 cows up for grabs, it's no surprise that more than half of the district's 1,400 residents have registered for the COVID-19 vaccine. This turnout is especially significant when you look at the demographic of the district, many of them elderly and in high-risk groups.

“This is the best gift ever,” said 65-year-old Inkham Thongkham, who managed to win a one-year-old female cow valued at US$320 (THB10,000) after getting his jab.

Over in Hong Kong, some are being rewarded even more handsomely for getting the jab. And some are being punished if they don't.

IMAGE: Reuters / Al Arabiya

Hong Kong is a sprawling metropolis that seems to have COVID-19 under relatively manageable conditions. Perhaps it's their close proximity to mainland China that has kept them on their toes, combined with a generally heightened discipline and adherence to COVID-19 safety measures.

I don't know about you, but when I think of Hong Kong, I think of money, material goods, and a high quality of life compared to their neighbors.

Yet, Hong Kong still has a surprisingly-low vaccination rate, which is naturally worrying authorities. After all, nobody wants a fresh new outbreak.

Some enterprising businesses have taken it upon themselves to reward employees who get vaccinated. Think: Useful shopping vouchers (because that's basically free money), free flight tickets (again – money – but with an eXpErIeNcE), paid leave from work (because everyone's gotta rest), and even a new apartment worth US$1.4 million (HK$10.8 million). Can I work in Hong Kong?

This apartment could be yours if you get vaxxed. IMAGE: Yahoo!Finance

But not everyone has it so good. According to The South China Morning Post, the General Manager of the Hong Kong Football Club warned employees that refusing vaccination without a doctor's exemption would result in no future opportunities for pay rises, bonuses, and promotions. Tough price to pay to stay unvaccinated.

Due to religious concerns, Indonesia's predominantly Muslim population is worried that the vaccines aren't halal, or permissible.

IMAGE: Reuters

Oh, and you can add general disinformation about the vaccine to the mix as well. You know, false claims that the vaccine will kill you and all. Yeah, sad.

According to data from Indonesia's Ministry of Health, only 5 percent of the country's population, or 8.8 million people, have been fully vaccinated (received two doses). Authorities would need to stretch incredibly far to reach the country's target of 181.5 million people, out of a total population of 276.2 million.

“I was afraid that if I was vaccinated, I would die immediately. Then there was more worrying news that this vaccine contained pork,” explained 67-year-old Asep Saepudin, a resident of West Java's Cipanas district.

Roughly 85 percent of Indonesia's population professes faith to Islam. Elderly Muslims in particular make up a huge chunk of people that are hesitant to get vaccinated. But authorities have employed a similar method to that of Thailand's – the offer of free livestock.

IMAGE: Reuters

But not cows this time, chickens.

“Elderly people don’t want to be vaccinated for various reasons, some say they want to but don’t come, some are even afraid,” says Cipanas district police chief, Galih Aprian.

“So we reward with chickens.”