Once considered by Utah, vaccine incentive lotteries didn't work well

Lotteries with large cash prizes as an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine have not seemed to work in states where they were tried, according to a study published in JAMA Health Forum.

The lottery drawings were once considered in Utah but were eventually nixed by state leaders.

The study, a joint project among scientists from the University of Colorado Denver, San Diego State University, Bentley University and the University of Oregon, found no statistically significant association between the lotteries and the vaccination rates. There was “zero difference” in vaccination rates in states that held lotteries compared to those that didn’t.

In fact, after looking at the states collectively, rather than looking at how each state that offered a lottery did, the number of people initiating their vaccination process per 1,000 population declined. The number of people getting their second dose stayed the same.

States that initiated the lotteries had high hopes. One state, Ohio, got splashy press coverage in May when it announced it planned to give away $1 million to five lucky people who got vaccinated. Local news reports suggested there was a spike in vaccinations right after the announcement of the lottery, but then interest tapered off quickly, the study said.