In order to motivate Americans to receive the coronavirus vaccine, federal, state and local officials are joining forces with pharmacies, restaurants, etc by coming up with incentive schemes. As part of this, an adult who receives a vaccine shot will get a bottle of beer for free.

Such offers are said to be on the rise in parts of the US, a country that wants to vaccinate 70% of all adults by its next Independence Day, which falls on July 4.

Well, beer is not the only incentive on the platter. In some States, for a particular segment of the population, savings bonds are also on the offer. As reported by a foreign publication, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice earlier this month earmarked funds that can finance the scheme of $100 savings bonds to residents aged 16 to 35. Adults in this age group will receive the benefit if they get vaccinated before a deadline.

In India, where vaccine hesitancy is rampant, such incentives are not possible because of resource constraints and lack of adequate state capacity to prevent leakages. There are calls for linking some benefits under government programs like the PDS to vaccination for people above the age of 45. In due course of time, once there is an excess supply of vaccines in the country, the governments are likely to do the same if a large segment of the population continues to show hesitancy.