California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $116.5 million COVID vaccine incentive program in an effort to combat vaccine hesitancy across the Golden State. The program seeks to encourage more Californians to get inoculated prior to the state’s full re-opening on June 15th.
Through the program, dubbed “Vax for the Win,” the state will be doling out $15 million in cash prizes. Ten Californians who opt into receiving the shot will receive $1.5 million each and every individual with at least one dose will be automatically entered to “win big on $50,000 Fridays.” The first two million California residents who complete their COVID-19 vaccination on or after May 27th will also receive a $50 gift card.
Newsom’s incentive program comes on the heels of increased vaccine hesitancy across the state as mass vaccination sites sit empty. The Los Angeles Times reported that two-thirds of adult Californians had been at least partially vaccinated for COVID-19 as of May 19th. Now that all individuals over the age of 12 have been given an opportunity to get vaccinated, demand for the shot has waned steadily. In April, NBC’s Bay Area affiliate reported that vaccination sites across Santa Clara County are sitting on a surplus of vaccine supply as demand levels off.
Need a covid vaccine? This walkup clinic at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose has 500 doses to give out today and doesn’t expect to get nearly that many people. No lines. They are open until 5pm. No appointment needed. They are open tomorrow too. pic.twitter.com/sbenSszMfh
— Marianne Favro (@mariannefavro) April 21, 2021
The Mercury News also noted that the new vaccine incentive program does not seem to be driving an increase in traffic to vaccination sites:
“A steady trickle of traffic flowed into Bay Area vaccination sites on Friday, a day after the state’s announcement of financial incentives to get jabbed. But trying to find a person for whom the promise of $50 and a chance at more than a million dollars had pushed them over the edge to get a shot was on par with hunting for a unicorn.”
Reports have surfaced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating recent cases of heart problems occurring in adolescents and young adults who have received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. This alarming trend comes just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration granted Pfizer’s shot emergency authorization for minors 12 and older. Numerous cases have surfaced of inoculated patients under the age of 18 developing myocarditis, a dangerous inflammatory heart disease.
“Among the cases, the heart condition appeared in adolescents and young adults, and more often in men than women. Symptoms typically appeared within four days after the second dose. Follow-up on the cases is ongoing, the work group said.”
Pfizer and Moderna are reportedly already developing vaccine booster shots. The “Big Pharma” giants have recently said immunity can start to weaken six to eight months after receiving the second dose.
The California Secretary of State’s office still needs to determine the number of voters who signed the Newsom recall petition that have since withdrawn their support. California’s economy fully reopens on June 15th with a continued state-wide mask mandate.
Jacob Ornelas is a journalist, social media influencer, and contributor to Def-Con News. He has built a following of over 86,000 conservatives on the social media platform TikTok where he delivers daily headlines without the “legacy media spin.” He can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Parler @PatriotJakey.
