Northeast Brazilian state entices residents for second vaccine dose with US$2,000 raffle

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Maranhão governor Flávio Dino (PCdoB) on Tuesday, June 15, announced that the state will draw prizes to encourage the population to be immunized with the second vaccine dose against Covid-19 from Monday, June 21.

The measure aims to encourage the vaccination of the Maranhão population against Covid-19.

The announcement was made in a Twitter post. The governor said that in order to compete for the prizes, people need to have taken the second vaccine dose and have their immunization registered by the municipalities into the Ministry of Health’s system.

With respect to prizes, Dino did not offer further details. However, information from O Globo newspaper points out that prizes will entail vouchers for food purchases ranging from R$1,000 to R$10,000. In the past, anyone who administered the vaccine in “immunization carnivals” also won corn chowder, where the administration of doses occurred uninterruptedly on weekends.

The initiative comes in the wake of what has been occurring in the United States, where to encourage vaccination, initiatives ranging from offering a free doughnut a day for a year to free beer, have been launched. The Biden administration has set the goal of 70% of the adult population administered at least one dose before the 4th of July – American independence day.

In the race for vaccination, Dino also announced that on Thursday, June 17, the municipality of Alcântara will be the first Brazilian city to vaccinate the entire population over the age of 18. According to the governor, this is owed to the fact that the municipality received thousands of vaccines intended for the quilombola population, which was considered a priority in the National Immunization Program (PNI).

“We keep fighting to advance in all regions, with the Vaccination Carnivals and the joint effort with municipalities,” said the governor on Twitter.