Beers, biryanis and even “Tinder boosts” are up for grabs as countries around the world try to encourage hesitant people to get a Covid-19 vaccine.
Scientists say at least 65%-70% of the population need to be immunised to reach “herd immunity” – when enough of a population has protection against an infection that it stops being able to spread.
But there are fears some groups – especially young people – may be more hesitant about getting a jab.
To tackle vaccine hesitancy, companies as well as local and government officials in different countries are dreaming up eye-catching schemes to attract those unsure about getting jabbed to come forward.
Dating app ‘boost’
Officials across the US – which is trying to give 70% of adults at least one shot of the vaccine by 4 July – have various handouts to encourage people to get vaccinated.The latest government scheme will allow dating app users who have been vaccinated to get a “vaccination badge” and special benefits on their profile.
The White House is partnering with several prominent dating platforms including Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to give access to premium content to those who can prove they have been vaccinated, it said in a statement.