Vaccine Shots for Gunshots?

West Virginia will reward its vaccinated residents with new guns, attempting to dissolve one pandemic by aiding another

Photo by STNGR Industries on Unsplash

West Virginia has had an especially challenging time enduring the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the state’s positivity rate is currently at a low since spiking last October (4%), nearly 600 new cases are being reported daily, with more than 200 infected residents hospitalized. In the midst of America’s fight against the coronavirus, these numbers have stained the Mountain State with a poor man’s status. Add to that an oppressive statewide hospital bill—one that West Virginia intends to deflate with a syringe.

West Virginia’s vaccination rate (49%) ranks 45th among all states (Vermont ranks first with 82% of all eligible citizens vaccinated). Its political leaders have settled on increased inoculations as the health solution for its local population and pride. The chosen conduit for this achievement is incentivizing. The state is ready to reward or straight up pay their people to roll up a sleeve and take one for the team. Ohio was one of the first states to offer vaccine prizes. Its vaccination numbers rose immediately after the announcement of a $1 million lottery for five vaxxed residents.

On June 1, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said, in a sense, hold my beer. He announced a new vaccine lottery program — one more robust than its predecessors that concentrates on men and the young. The initiative will begin on Father’s Day of this year and conclude on August 4. Up for grabs is a treasure as diverse as it is countrified. Pickup trucks are included in the winning pot; as are lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. For the under 25 and vaxxed, in- and out-of-state college scholarships are a possibility. Then there is everyone’s favorite motivation: cash. The highest purse in West Virginia’s vaccination lottery program is $1.6 million. One may view this as a big-picture investment; others as political money being thrown at a health problem.

The offering that makes West Virginia’s new lottery most singular is what makes it potentially the most costly. Firearms are also on the state’s vaccine incentive list. Seriously — the state is offering five custom hunting rifles as well as five custom hunting shotguns…