John Delaney, former Congressman from Maryland and 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate, has an idea to pay Americans to take a COVID-19 vaccine.
With several vaccines soon ready for distribution, Delaney says that the difficult part will be ensuring that people will get vaccinated. Vaccines don’t stop infections, vaccinatins do.
He says some people are afraid of vaccinations in general, and some are afraid of this one in particular because of the politicization surrounding it.
A recent poll showed that only 58 percent of Americans are willing to get the vaccine as soon as possible. The number is down from 69 percent who were willing this summer.
The solution is simple: Pay people to take a covid vaccine. The vaccines are likely to arrive at the same moment Washington is, belatedly, taking up much-needed stimulus legislation. The timing couldn’t be better: Money would go into Americans’ pockets just when the U.S. economy can begin fully reopening with a vaccinated population that can go about their daily lives without fear of catching the disease or infecting others.
To that end, the federal government should pay every American $1,500 to get vaccinated. Send proof of vaccination, receive a $1,500 check or money via direct deposit.
Delaney says the incentive may be the most effective way to persuade those who are reluctant, and also serve as an economic stimulus. This double-dip stimulus would provide relief to economically suffering families, and provide the acceleration to the fully open economy to provide tax revenue from formerly unemployed individuals and partially-opened businesses.
John Delaney’s complete Opinion piece can be found at Washington Post.
Also here at USA Today