Austria introduces national lottery as coronavirus vaccine incentive

Austria’s government said on Thursday it was introducing a national lottery to encourage holdouts to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, Report informs, citing Reuters.

“What is there to win in the vaccination lottery? Vouchers!” Chancellor Karl Nehammer told a news conference with the leader of the opposition Social Democrats, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, with whom the measure was negotiated.

Nehammer said members of the public, whether already vaccinated or not, would get a ticket for each shot they have had - three tickets in total for those who have had their booster shot.

Every tenth ticket would win a 500 euro ($568) gift voucher, Nehammer said, without specifying what the vouchers were for.

The lower house of parliament is due to pass a bill later on Thursday making vaccines compulsory for all adults in Austria, with initial fines of 600 euros, rising to up to 3,600 euros if the fine is challenged unsuccessfully.

Roughly 72% of Austria’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, one of the lowest rates in western Europe.