From $1-Million Lotteries to Free Beer: Do COVID Vaccination Incentives Work?

Tanya Lewis

June 17, 2021 |

Scientific American |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ohio

Several states are offering incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Ohio’s Vax-a-Million program was one of the first state-based cash lotteries, awarding five residents over 18 a $1-million prize and five full college scholarships to residents ages 12-17. Vaccination rates jumped 28% in the first week of the program. Other states have looked to boost vaccination rates by offering creative incentives in addition to cash lotteries, including prepaid grocery and subway cards, tickets to local attractions, hunting rifles, free beer, and even cannabis joints in Washington state.

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Italian volunteers transform an old custom of generosity into a powerful weapon in the battle against Covid 19

Lorenzo Di Stasi

June 17, 2021 |

News48 |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Milan

Milan’s tampone sospeso or “suspended test” initiative provides rapid COVID-19 tests to stop the spread of the virus. The initiative sets up in highly visible public areas of Milan and is based on a model of mutual support where everyone pays what they can. It is run with the help of over 50 volunteers and Medicina Solidale, a group of medical professionals who provide free medical advice to those who can’t afford to access care. The project has raised 24,000 euros from 436 donors, which has enabled them to administer rapid antigenic swabs to more than 3000 people.

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How Kitimat B.C. is catching its breath

Anna Lamb-Yorski

June 16, 2021 |

Living Here |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Kitimat, British Columbia

A new aluminum plant in British Columbia would have ended up putting more sulphur dioxide into the air, but the Kitimat Terrace Clean Air Coalition (KTCAC) helped bring this to light and encourage them to install air monitoring stations. They wrote letters to the government and took the company to court. As a result of their efforts, three air monitoring stations were installed to measure the particulate matter and alert residents if levels increased. “Industry and government are listening to people who are concerned in Kitimat,” says Steve Stannus, a founder of KTCAC.

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New grocery store reflects Cornerstone church's belief that 'South Dallas deserves beautiful things'

Sujata Dand

June 16, 2021 |

Dallas Free Press |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

The new Southpoint Community Market in Dallas is the product of seven years of planning in a process based on community input about the need for accessible, nutritious, affordable food and other everyday groceries. Anchoring what once was a run-down shopping center, the new grocery and coffee bar is supported by Cornerstone Community Enterprises, a nearby church's philanthropic arm, and the Real Estate Council Foundation, which will cover the store's financial losses until it is self-sustaining. The store is part of a larger effort to provide for a healthier neighborhood.

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‘Bring the things to the people': Why tenants and experts want more vaccination options

Justin Chandler

June 15, 2021 |

TVO |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Hamilton, Ontario

After a COVID-19 outbreak at a Hamilton apartment complex, officials began offering on-site appointments, particularly for people who are homebound. About 1,400 people have gotten the shot at their residence and many more at pop-up clinics. The decentralized approach is more resource intensive but is effective at reaching people at high risk for contracting the virus. Doctors at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine used the patient-centered approach to vaccinate a pre-identified list of Scarborough residents, mapping routes to ensure vaccines were used up within their six-hour time limit.

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Philly Families Are Taking Charge of Their Own Food Security

Emily Nonko

June 15, 2021 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In 2014, the community organization Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha piloted a community-based Food Buying Club in Philadelphia. This initiative allowed local residents to buy food in bulk at wholesale prices. The goal was to strengthen food security and combat the lack of affordable and nutritious food in their neighborhood. Despite distributing over 62,000 pounds of fresh produce, the program shut down due to financial reasons. Now, after forming an advisory council and working on their business strategy with others in the community, the club is reopening and is looking to expand across the city.

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Safe Spaces: Youth friendly centre provides judgement-free forum for sexual and reproductive health convos in Yola

Bashar Abubakar

June 14, 2021 |

Nigeria Health Watch |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Yolo

Today for Tomorrow Foundation is a youth-led and youth-serving non-profit that provides safe spaces for talking about sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, and other socially taboo topics. Over 40 people have participated in the discussions and other programming. Discussions range from dispelling common myths - like the myth that using contraceptives before marriage prevents a woman from getting pregnant in the future - to teaching safe sex practices and developing a sense of empowerment so that the youth can advocate for their own wellbeing and not be constrained by the judgment of others.

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'Just stop the bleeding': The first-aid training officers used to save lives in Austin's mass shooting

Tori Larned

June 12, 2021 |

KVUE-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Austin, Texas

Since 2014, all Austin police officers and cadets receive first-aid training, including the use of tourniquets and CPR. The training, which covers four weeks for cadets, is meant to provide stopgap, life-saving aid when more highly trained medics cannot reach the scene of a mass shooting quickly enough. Gunshot victims can bleed to death quickly, making the speed of the response paramount. Police provided such aid to multiple victims of a June 12, 2021, mass shooting, including transporting people in police vehicles to hospitals. The response is credited with saving lives.

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As Michigan ages, one woman has made it her mission to train family caregivers

Ted Roelofs

June 11, 2021 |

Bridge Michigan |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

After taking care of her own parents, Paula Duren started “boot camp” sessions for caregivers to share available resources, tips for self-care, and support. Drawing on her experience as a psychologist, Duren started the nonprofit Universal Dementia Caregivers to build and run the workshops, which have moved to zoom sessions because of the COVID-19. The all-day sessions provide information ranging from financial advice to how to access state and local services to stress-reduction tips. The overarching message throughout is that caregivers must take care of themselves to take care of their loved ones.

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Minnesota Repurposes Transit Buses to Give COVID-19 Vaccines to Communities That Need Them Most

Henry Pan

June 10, 2021 |

Next City |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

With extra buses available due to lower ridership during the pandemic, Metro Transit worked with key partners to turn six buses into mobile vaccination clinics. Metro Transit provided drivers and retrofitted the buses by removing seats, relocating stanchions, and ensuring buses could draw power from electrical outlets. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota provided staff and licensed clinicians to administer the vaccines. The health department provided funding that made it all come together. The buses prioritized areas with gaps in vaccine access, including low-income areas and communities of color.

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