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vaccinations/health care and product promotions.

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  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,516 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    In Chicago, both professional baseball teams have announced promotions based around vaccines. Both the Cubs and White Sox have vaccination sites on premises. If you have a ticket to the game already, and you get a vaccine at the ballpark on the day of the game, the Cubs will give you a voucher for a free hot dog and drink, and the White Sox will give you a $25 voucher to be used anywhere in the ballpark that day.

    I see this as a good way of catching people who simply didn't make it a priority to go out and get vaccinated. But, if they're going to the baseball game anyways, and the vaccines are right there, they don't have to make an appointment or a separate trip, and they get some free stuff out of it, then why not?

    There are a lot of unvaccinated people who are not anti-vaxx, but maybe just a little lazy or unmotivated. If we catch people going about their daily business, I think that would help.



    Yes, opportunistic vaccination - we have done things like that with flu vax before, at shows and such (without the vouchers)

    I see that as a bit different - people are getting the vaccination there and the vaccination sponsor is providing a voucher.

    Bit different to KK who had nothing to do with vaccinating - and were not running a vaccination program but just piggybacking their commercial interests on to a health message.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    Saw this...

    You could get a chance to win up to $5 million if you get a COVID-19 vaccine in New York State next week.
    Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Thursday morning in Buffalo in an effort to get more people to receive the vaccine.
    "We know that vaccinations are the vital piece of the puzzle we need to crush COVID once and for all," Governor Cuomo said. "We're doing everything we can to make getting a vaccine as quick and easy as possible, but as vaccination rates slow across the state, we're going to have to get creative to put even more shots in arms. This new pilot program will offer a greater incentive for New Yorkers to get vaccinated by offering a free scratch-off ticket for a chance to win up to $5 million. The more New Yorkers we can get vaccinated, the better our situation and the faster we can return to a new normal, so I encourage everyone who hasn't been vaccinated yet to go to your nearest site and get the shot."
  • threewins
    threewins Posts: 1,455 Member
    I really wish my country's government would do a lottery for vaccinated people. We're spending NZ$280 per person for everything, that's a lot of money. Just do a $10 million lottery, a lot of people on the fence would be drawn to getting done for that kind of money. The cost would increase to $282.
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,376 Member
    Who knows Australia just may get a lottery or cash incentive, though I'd be surprised if it did. Not because I think the general public may be against it, I don't think the prime minister would support such incentives.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/23/lottery-tickets-or-cash-experts-say-australians-need-incentives-to-get-covid-vaccine
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,516 Member
    edited May 2021
    Interesting article- but, whilst the owner of an advertising agency may think that, the article is really just his opinion, I dont think it is representative of most people

    And I agree, I dont think the prime minister or the public at large would support such.
    I would be very surprised too.
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,376 Member
    edited June 2021
    An Australian airline (Virgin Airlines Australia) will be offering a competion for people who have the vaccine...it will be on offer once vaccines open to the wider community, so far, no out cry against it (that I am aware of)... but once open to the general public it will be for those who have the vaccine over those who do not.

    https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/va-x-win-virgin-australia-announces-covid-19-vaccination-competition-“millions”-offer

    Bring it on...I wouldn't mind those points!!!!
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    My friends brother got vaccinated twice (both doses) just so he could get the $50 gift card his state was offering.....
  • jasod24947
    jasod24947 Posts: 3 Member
    edited July 2021
    We revert back to habits that were formed as we were growing up. You could argue that if we all had washed our hands, we wouldn‘t be in this position. In fact MRSA rates are on the way down and flu infections are way down. So if you take away the barriers of availability to the vaccine, then actually it‘s human behavior that is the biggest barrier to changing outcomes.
  • Unknown
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  • bsteves06
    bsteves06 Posts: 66 Member
    Frig, here in canada we got nothing. we were chomping at the bit to get our vaccines. as soon as they opened up more spots, i moved my sept second dose up to July. Now the vaccine passports are coming so maybe that will nudge a few people along.
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,736 Member
    My company is now offering 8 hours of vacation time and entry into a drawing for vaccination. However, to me, it slightly stinks of "data mining" since they want a copy of your vaccination card whereas before you could just enter into the HR system that you had been vaccinated. I guess it is good they are promoting it but I am not sure that the incentive will be enough to change a lot of people's minds? Perhaps?
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,376 Member
    SummerSkier wrote: »
    My company is now offering 8 hours of vacation time and entry into a drawing for vaccination. However, to me, it slightly stinks of "data mining" since they want a copy of your vaccination card whereas before you could just enter into the HR system that you had been vaccinated. I guess it is good they are promoting it but I am not sure that the incentive will be enough to change a lot of people's minds? Perhaps?

    It may get those who are sitting on the fence about vaccination and those who intend to get vaccinated but just a bit slow about booking etc.

    My company gives a day's leave as a thank you to those have been vaccinated, we had a high vaccination rate at my work location so probably wasn't needed. At the company's other and much bigger location, vaccination rate was lower.

    There have been a number of companies now offering incentives/competitions to the general public to get vaccinated eg Melbourne Airport is giving away $10,000 each month as an incentive (to the winner of the competition); Qantas unlimited free travel for a year to a winner; lots of smaller companies offering smaller incentives too. If it gets more people of the fence, that's great as far as I am concerned.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    My company is requiring vaccination, so the incentive is that you get to keep your job.
    I am very much in favor of this.

    I think my company will ultimately do this as well. It's come up a couple of times at meetings since full FDA approval. As it is, the protocols for unvaxed employees make things pretty inconvenient and at times downright difficult for them.

    We have a three strikes policy on protocol violations as well which I think some people didn't think would really be enforced...it has been and that's actually getting some employees out to get vaxed as we have a good number on strike 2 at the moment.

    With all of the protocol hoops, it's pretty easy to miss something and be in violation...we had some that were being blatantly rebellious (now gone), but most just forget one thing or another and at this point and it's putting their livelihoods in jeopardy. For some of the protocols, I wish there was some kind of "mercy" rule because the violation isn't actually endangering anyone, but all protocols are being treated the same across the board.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,884 Member
    I work for a small company but we're all vaccinated. My boss probably wouldn't have but clients got on him and he has to travel.

    I'm kinda wondering if losing your job for not being vaccinated is legal, tho. Can they do that?
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 37,029 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    I work for a small company but we're all vaccinated. My boss probably wouldn't have but clients got on him and he has to travel.

    I'm kinda wondering if losing your job for not being vaccinated is legal, tho. Can they do that?

    In the US, unless a state manages to make it illegal, at this point it's legal under federal law to require vaccination as a condition of employment.

    The employer must make reasonable accommodations for people with religious objections to vaccination, and to those who medically cannot be vaccinated.

    The definition of "reasonable accommodation" is likely to vary situationally . . . at least what counts as "reasonable" for accommodating certain disabilities in certain jobs varies depending on how central a particular ability may be to a particular job.

    Don't know about outside the US.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,884 Member
    Well, ok then! 😁

    I'm for it...especially in hospital and care giver settings because....c'mon!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 37,029 Member
    SuzySunshine99 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    glassyo wrote: »
    I work for a small company but we're all vaccinated. My boss probably wouldn't have but clients got on him and he has to travel.

    I'm kinda wondering if losing your job for not being vaccinated is legal, tho. Can they do that?

    In the US, unless a state manages to make it illegal, at this point it's legal under federal law to require vaccination as a condition of employment.

    The employer must make reasonable accommodations for people with religious objections to vaccination, and to those who medically cannot be vaccinated.

    The definition of "reasonable accommodation" is likely to vary situationally . . . at least what counts as "reasonable" for accommodating certain disabilities in certain jobs varies depending on how central a particular ability may be to a particular job.

    Don't know about outside the US.

    My employer indicated that there would be very, VERY few exceptions granted.

    They are requiring a documented medical condition that prohibits vaccination, complete with a doctor's confirmation of your condition.

    For religious exemptions...you can't just say, "I have a religious objection." You have to prove you are a member of a religious community that prohibits vaccinations as part of their doctrine..ie Christian Science. Testimony from your religious leader confirming that you are a part of this community is required.

    Yup. There's a whole level of formality about what's required and allowed. There are specific legal provisions an precedents that apply to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (which prohibits discrimination based on religion, among other things). There are some other federal provisions that apply, but I think those are the biggies.

    WRT religious exemptions, in other scenarios (like flu vax), the definition of "religion" has been interpreted broadly, i.e., doesn't have to be theistic, can be moral principles as long as sincerely held. If that standard applies here, I think requiring one be part of a formal religion that has a religious leader . . . well, that might not hold up in court. I'm sure we'll find out.

    Reportedly, some vegan somewhere was held to be due an exemption from flu vaccination as an example of a sincerely held belief that qualified under Title VII . . . I don't think there is a "head vegan" who can sign something for a person. Not sure one way or another whether the Covid vax has a vegan issue associated - but the point about not needing to be a recognized formal religion may still apply. That's above my pay grade. I needed to know the basics about applying these laws in practice as a manager in large organization, but any edge cases or complicated stuff got referred to HR and/or our general counsel's office.

    Perhaps one of our MFPers who's an attorney knows something about this.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,186 Member
    SummerSkier wrote: »
    My company is now offering 8 hours of vacation time and entry into a drawing for vaccination. However, to me, it slightly stinks of "data mining" since they want a copy of your vaccination card whereas before you could just enter into the HR system that you had been vaccinated. I guess it is good they are promoting it but I am not sure that the incentive will be enough to change a lot of people's minds? Perhaps?

    My company has been asking for us to upload a copy of our vaccination card as part of its planning for bringing everyone back into the office. The thing is, I don't have an office. They closed it well before covid and directed us to work from home. I keep wondering why they don't recognize this doesn't apply to me and other similarly situated colleagues (no, we have never had to go into one of the other offices that they still have for any reason). I had not thought about the data-mining angle.

    I'm perfectly fine with showing my card or a photo of it to get into any place that I am physically going, but this just feels creepy to me.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,393 Member
    My employer sent out a voluntary anonymous survey a while back asking us to disclose our vaccination status (or intent, for the unvaxxed). At first I wasn't going to bother, then I thought that maybe if they find out that a high enough percentage of us are vaccinated they won't bother thinking about implementing a mandatory policy. Odds are that our vaccine uptake is high because we have a LOT of people who like to travel.

    I thought of this thread today as I was reading a semi-related article on CBC about Alberta's current crisis. Alberta recently started offering a $100 incentive to get vaccinated and are now looking at a passport system. Some expert was interviewed and said generally that incentives are only mildly successful at motivating behaviour and that mandates/restrictions work a lot better. I'm in Ontario and our passport system comes into effect on the 22nd. Every time I'm in the pharmacy there are at least half a dozen people in some stage of vaccination hanging around there, so a few of the previously-hesitant are taking the plunge. (This pharmacy is definitely not the only place in town giving vaccinations but I've never seen that many people coming in on a walk-in basis before)
  • YellowD0gs
    YellowD0gs Posts: 693 Member
    SummerSkier wrote: »
    My company is now offering 8 hours of vacation time and entry into a drawing for vaccination. However, to me, it slightly stinks of "data mining" since they want a copy of your vaccination card whereas before you could just enter into the HR system that you had been vaccinated. I guess it is good they are promoting it but I am not sure that the incentive will be enough to change a lot of people's minds? Perhaps?
    You probably gave your employer all the important information when you applied and accepted your job. Name, address, SSN, bank account (if you use direct deposit), copy of your signature....
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,516 Member
    I'm not sure what information is on your vaccine cards.

    Here in Australia we have covid vaccine certificates downloadable from the Immunisation Registry.
    They have your name, date of birth and dates of covid vaccines ( and I think your Medicare no)

    Your employer may not have had your Medicare no already but they certainly had your name and date of birth.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    paperpudding wrote: »
    I'm not sure what information is on your vaccine cards.

    Here in Australia we have covid vaccine certificates downloadable from the Immunisation Registry.
    They have your name, date of birth and dates of covid vaccines ( and I think your Medicare no)

    Your employer may not have had your Medicare no already but they certainly had your name and date of birth.

    That's all our cards have on them. I find the data mining angle quite odd. Employee files have way more very personal information than that.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 37,029 Member
    This is what the US vaccine card looks like:

    210716-covid-vax-cards-mb-1837.jpg

    The only things on the card that a normal US employer wouldn't already have are the patient number, and the type/lot number/date/site of vaccination.

    The patient number is intended to be used for the number the vaccination site uses to identify the person, not their social security number (which the employer has, of course) or medicare ID number. Medical record number is a standard term for that: It'd be the number that (say) a hospital system uses to keep track of my medical records in their affiliated facilities. The IIS number is related to consolidating vaccination information in an electronic record, so all info is available to doctors/clinics/etc. about all the vaccinations a person has had.

    As a generality, the records associated with those numbers (at the health care provide/data aggregator facility) are protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). That does *not* mean the number itself, or other data on the card, when you give it to your employer, is HIPAA protected (because one's employer is not typically a HIPAA covered entity). Other privacy protection regulations will likely apply, though - some complicated set of both federal and state regulations.

    On my card, the patient number is left blank.

    I think that using the term "data mining" in this context may be misleading, and it's a term that's often used imprecisely.

    I'm not saying, in any of the above, that one should not be concerned about invasions of privacy, by one's employer or others; or should not be concerned about data aggregation (i.e., with whom your employer might share that data, and how it might be used by the employer or others). There are certainly legit concerns people could have.

    "Data mining" is maybe a more scary-sounding term, but technically it means something more like statistical pattern recognition in large collections of diverse data. If your employer aggregated the vaccination information for employees, augmented it with other information they hold about those employees, maybe even sought out outside information about the same people and included it in some data analysis to figure out patterns in who was or wasn't getting vaccinated (statistical trends), or something like that, that last analysis bit would maybe be data mining, in the technical sense. Most employers aren't going to spend money on doing something like that, realistically.

    If you look up "data mining" on the web, look at sources with actual reason to know what the term means (vs. those with theories about questionable corporate behavior but no technical knowledge), like IBM, statistical software providers, etc.

    There can be reasons to be concerned about data mining, too, but I don't think that giving one's employer one's vax card is really the same thing.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,488 Member
    edited September 2021
    Here is my vaccine card, a photo on my phone, a hard copy can be mailed out if one doesn’t have a smart phone.

    The old card issued with the vaccine is being phased out over the next month.

    My name is in the headset too.

    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/StaticWebResources/static/gov3/html/images/full_with_sample_text.pngwwp4unbywlrx.png




    This is the info provided on the QR code, as per gov site.

    ‘What information is included in your QR code

    The QR code contains your:

    First and last name
    Date of birth
    Dates of vaccination
    Type of vaccine
    The lot numbers of the doses you received
    The clinic location where you received your doses’

    It is linked to my health records but they can’t be accessed through it.
    It can be used to access vaccines restricted venues etc.

    Cheers, h.

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