Germany is facing a new challenge in its vaccination campaign as the availability of vaccines has improved, but the number of people willing to get vaccinated remains low. The Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) has set a new target of achieving a vaccination rate of at least 85% due to the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. To achieve this goal, experts suggest offering financial incentives to motivate people to get vaccinated. According to a study by the Ifo-Institut, the societal value of a vaccination in Germany is around 1,500 euros. Offering a portion of this value as a reward could increase vaccination rates.
Ekkehard Köhler from the University of Siegen and Jan Schnellenbach from the TU Cottbus-Senftenberg propose offering a substantial reward of 200 to 300 euros to motivate people to get vaccinated. Additionally, Schnellenbach suggests offering a recruitment bonus to those who encourage their friends and family to get vaccinated. Economist Nora Szech from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) also supports the idea of financial incentives, stating that a reward of 100 euros could increase vaccination rates to around 80%, while a reward of 500 euros could achieve a rate of 90%.
However, it is important to note that low rewards could actually reduce the perceived importance of vaccination and decrease willingness to get vaccinated. To avoid creating an incentive to wait for the reward, those who have already been vaccinated should also be eligible for the reward. Other countries, such as Greece, have already implemented similar reward programs. Szech believes that offering incentives is necessary to compensate for the delay in implementing such programs and to increase vaccination rates in Germany.
In conclusion, offering financial incentives could be an effective way to increase vaccination rates in Germany. Experts suggest offering a substantial reward of 200 to 300 euros, and possibly a recruitment bonus, to motivate people to get vaccinated. However, it is important to ensure that the reward does not create an incentive to wait for it and that those who have already been vaccinated are also eligible.
