BRIEF REPORT
Jenny D. Gong, BS; Emma Barnboym, CCRC; Megan O’Mara, MS; Natalie Gurevich, MS; Maya Mattar, MD; Donald D. Anthony, MD, PhD; Nora G. Singer, MD; Adam T. Perzynski, PhD
Corresponding Author: Adam Perzynski, PhD; The MetroHealth System.Email: adam.perzynski@case.eduDOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220265R1Keywords: COVID-19, Health Policy, Incentives, Ohio, Qualitative Research, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vaccination HesitancyDates: Submitted: 08-01-2022; Revised: 10-06-2022; Accepted: 10-07-2022
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BACKGROUND: Declining COVID-19 vaccination rates have led to implementation of monetary incentives to increase vaccine uptake. The Ohio Vax-a-Million lottery and subsequent $100 incentives were created to encourage individuals to become vaccinated. The purpose of this survey was to determine the efficacy of these monetary incentives on vaccination rates.
METHODS: A 38-item questionnaire was given to outpatients at MetroHealth and Cleveland Veteran Affairs Hospitals between August 2021 and February 2022 who either waited 2 or more months to receive the COVID-19 vaccination or have not yet been vaccinated. The survey contained questions regarding demographics and perceptions of COVID-19 monetary incentives on vaccination likelihood.
RESULTS: Of the 471 participants surveyed, 0.95% reported that the Ohio Vax-a-Million lottery increased their vaccination likelihood, while 29.7% reported that it decreased their likelihood. 6.8% of respondents reported the $100 incentive increased their vaccination likelihood while 17.4% reported it decreased their vaccination chances. 20.6% of participants stated news of the Delta variant increased their vaccination likelihood.
CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that monetary incentives were not associated with increased COVID-19 vaccination rates. Instead, more participants believed that these incentives decreased their vaccination likelihood. Expansion of the survey across a wider sociodemographic range can provide further evidence of the efficacy of these programs prior to reimplementation.