Free transport and food delivery: UK offers incentives for young people to get COVID-19 vaccine

Discounts on food deliveries or taxi apps are some of the incentives to offer UK to promote vaccination among the youngest, announced this Sunday the Minister of Health Sajid Javid.

In a statement, Javid encouraged people aged 18 to 29, who are more reluctant to get vaccinated than the rest of the adult population, to “take advantage of these reductions” and He recalled that the vaccine not only protects them and their loved ones, but will allow them to “do a lot of things” that they lack..

According to the note, taxi apps like Uber and Bolt offer discounts on their services or even free trips to vaccination centers, while young people can buy food at reduced prices in Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Pizza Pilgrim.

The ministry, which has set up vaccination points for young people in art galleries and shopping centers, clarified that Other incentives will be revealed in the coming days, which could include discounts at restaurants or cheaper tickets to cinemas, theaters or music festivals..

London is seeking to increase its vaccination rate amid a rebound in cases and at a time when the government seeks to fully revive economic and social activities.

Based on data up to July 30, 67% of young people between 18 and 29 received the first dose of the COVID vaccine, a figure below 88.5% of the total adult population (approximately 46.8 million people). Vaccination has not yet started for children and adolescents.

72.1% of adults -38.12 million- received the full immunization schedule.

After lifting all restrictions imposed with the third lockdown in January, the UK has managed to mitigate for now, through vaccinations and closing schools for the holidays, the advance of transmissible delta variant infections. , although it is detected. in recent days a relative increase in deaths and hospitalizations.

Thus, between Friday and Saturday, 26,144 new positive cases were recorded in the country, or 33% less than a week earlier, with 71 deaths, or 9.1% more, and 927 hospitalizations, an increase by 18.9%.

It is not the only country trying to persuade the reluctant to get vaccinated. This week, US President Joe Biden called on state and local governments to follow in New York and Minnesota’s footsteps by offering $ 100 to those who get vaccinated, hoping a financial incentive will motivate those undecided to get the shot. vaccinate while the highly contagious delta variant devastates several regions of the country.

(With information from EFE and AP)

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