School, college and other closings for Monday

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Krispy Kreme is giving away a complimentary glazed doughnut to anyone who flashes their vaccine card. 

 is furnishing L.L.Bean gift certificates and free fishing and hunting licenses to residents who get the shot.

Now, United Airlines has become the latest entity to offer an incentive to get more of its customers inoculated against the coronavirus: the chance to win free flights for a year.

Companies and state governments have been rolling out inducements to the as-yet-unvaccinated in an effort to inoculate more people against the coronavirus, which has killed more than 590,000 in the U.S. alone.

Incentives are added to vaccine drive

Some MN businesses offer incentives for vaccinations

The offers are aimed at overcoming vaccine hesitancy and have become more common in recent weeks as 

 in April found that 26 percent of Americans said they would not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

, travelers who are part of the airline's MileagePlus program must enter a photo of their vaccine card online by June 22. United will choose five winners to receive a year of free flights — 26 round-trip tickets — in any class for themselves and one traveling companion. Another 30 flyers will be chosen to win one round-trip flight for two.

"With more dream destinations reopening for travel (ciao, Roma!), your COVID-19 vaccine is your ticket to the world," the United promotion reads.

When it comes to convincing people to get vaccinated, there is evidence the carrot works better than the stick.

recent survey by UCLA's Covid-19 Health and Politics Project

 said a monetary incentive would make them more likely to get the shot.

 this month after state officials created the Ohio Vax-a-Million sweepstakes, a $1 million lottery open to state residents who've received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. The state Department of Health reported a 28 percent increase in vaccinations the weekend after the drawing was announced.

Colorado is following in Ohio's footsteps with 

weekly million-dollar drawings on June 4 through July 7

Health

COVID-19

Joe Hernandez

Author

Companies and state governments — in what is perhaps a mix of commercial interest and civic-minded altruism — are offering prizes to encourage vaccination. United Airlines is the latest to do so.

United holds drawings for free flights for those who get the shot

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox