Washington DC lottery for teens | Apple products and scholarships for vaccines

Senior Reporter

The only thing in the world that’s advancing as fast as technology is vaccine incentives worldwide. First, it was free beer and movie tickets, then massive money prizes for anyone who’s been vaccinated. This week the target is teenagers in Washington DC between the ages of 12 and 17. The prize is irresistible for this age group: hundred-plus dollar Apple AirPods. However, many teens already have these trendy Bluetooth earbuds, and for those, there will be weekly draws for an iPad with headphones and scholarships.

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Interest-based incentive targeting

Vaccine lotteries are nothing new. They have been going on for months in the US, and other countries are joining in for the purpose of reaching higher vaccination rates. Some states managed to raise the numbers, while other’s saw no increase in newly vaccinated individuals. But now there’s a new target audience - teenagers.

Washington, D.C. has been more successful in this regard, as approximately 64.6% of the state’s residents received at least one dose, while 55.1% went through with the second vaccination. However, it was mostly adults that added to the numbers, as 71% were over the age of 18. But since Washington D.C. reported 51,103 new cases since March 2020, the shift change to younger people. It’s also important to know that it’s less than 10% of the state’s population that was reported to get affected by the virus in over a year - the push for vaccines is overplayed.

Regardless, the facts don’t stop the government from pushing their preferred agendas. With that said, the teen vaccine lotteries and giveaways begin on August 7, and will continue through September 30. There will also be weekly giveaways staring August 30. The lottery will include teens from 12 to 17 at select middle schools within the state. Anyone who’s received the first shot will be gifted free AirPods, but the weekly draws will  offer iPads with headphones to eight teenage participants. Additionally, two youngsters a week will be given $25,000 college scholarships. This incentive was announced Saturday, by Washington D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser.

Bribing the parents of swindled teenagers

If parents would want to vaccinate their teens - they would. But if you’ve ever heard a 13-year-old American teenager beg for a gaming console, you will know that most folks will give in as soon as possible just to hear the end of “please, all of my friends have an Xbox, I need one too!”. Apple product are also a commodity that help teens fit in with the rest of the crowd. Believe it or not, middle schoolers make fun of their fellow peers for having headphones with “wires”. Simply imagine the amount of begging teenagers from low income families will conduct for an opportunity to receive AirPods. Besides, teens need a ride to get their shot in the first place.

The Washington D.C. Mayor knows this full well, so he made sure to include parents in the mix. Each parent (or guardian) that will get their teen to receive a vaccine will be awarded a $69 Visa gift. Even better for families who have multiple teens, as each will count towards the mini shopping spree opportunity. But if it’s not pleading for an Apple products that will sway some parents, it will certainly be the opportunity for their young to receive a generous scholarship. In other words - cards well played.

Vaccine incentives are growing in generosity

Washington D.C. isn’t the only state offering such thoughtful gifts to students. Universities across the US are bribing college students with gift cards, cash prizes, and other goodies. While lotteries are a neat opportunity for those who have already been vaccinated, the unwilling are suffering from enforced mandates that the media barely cares to cover.

Federal lawsuits have been filed by University students across America who were told to get a jab or forget about coming back to school in the fall. Over a dozen infuriated pupils states like Indiana, Connecticut, California and Massachusetts, have been fighting for their constitutional rights. Universities are pushing for vaccines to become mandatory by fall, so it’s strange to see states offer prizes to make it seem like the jabs are an option. While the government has no power to directly force vaccinations - they certainly have ways to corner individuals who are left with no choice but to do so.

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