This is clearly a world first. In Serbia, getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is rewarded. According to Le Figaro, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has announced that each person vaccinated will receive 25 euros, and that all those vaccinated between now and the end of May will also be rewarded. His short-term objective is to have vaccinated three million people by the end of the month.
Serbia is a good pupil when it comes to vaccination. With a population of around seven million, 1.3 million people have already received at least one dose. But according to our colleagues, public interest in the anti-Covid serum has waned. In terms of its vaccination strategy, Serbia has drawn on the expertise of various laboratories, including Western, Russian and Chinese. The vaccine is "proof of responsibility", added President Vucic, who went further with regard to public sector employees: all those who contract Covid-19 and have not been vaccinated will no longer receive sick pay.
Donuts in the US, beer and pizza in Israel
While companies in some countries have offered benefits to their employees, a Serbian epidemiologist argues that there has never been a financial reward. As the Huffington Post recalled, New Jersey (USA) decided to offer a beer to all those vaccinated, with the support of several local breweries. In West Virginia, the authorities encouraged young people to get vaccinated by offering savings vouchers worth around €80.
A more far-fetched initiative, noted the Huffington Post, is that of Krispy Kreme, which is offering a free doughnut to anyone vaccinated between now and the end of the year. Finally, in Israel, the authorities are offering beer, pizza or local dishes for every person vaccinated. It remains to be seen how the population will react in Serbia, with the poorest likely to be attracted by the operation, and others more resistant.
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