PORTLAND, Ore —
With the push to vaccinate 70% of adults against COVID-19 by July 4 or earlier, Oregon and Washington are using a variety incentives and they are not alone.
At the main fire station in downtown Lake Oswego, a drop-in vaccination clinic is underway Tuesday from noon until 6 p.m.
No need to register, no need to live anywhere near the city, it is open to anyone who wants the Johnson & Johnson shot.
Inside, firefighter Leah Gordon worked on her laptop as she waited to give the shot. It was very quiet.
Gordon said five people had dropped in for a shot during the first hour. But no one was there at 1 p.m.
Assistant Fire Chief David Morris said the clinic was a last-minute idea pushed on social media with the hope of serving those who make spontaneous decisions.
“For some people scheduling doesn’t work for them,” he said. “They have a lifestyle or businesses or personal lifestyle that does not allow them to schedule something. So, this gives them the opportunity – yeah, I’m available and I’m coming in today,” Morris added.
His team will be at Lakeridge Middle School every Wednesday through June from noon until 7 p.m. with more doses for anyone who shows up.
Washington state launched its vaccine lottery to give people an extra reason to get the shot and picked its first $250,000 dollar winner Tuesday. It will announce the winner several days later.
The winners of Oregon's vaccine lottery, which holds several cash prizes including a $1 million prize, will be chosen at random June 28. The deadline to get vaccinated for a chance to win is June 27, but data shows the lottery hasn't been making much of an impact on vaccinations.
Kaiser Permanente is also joining the incentive game in all its territories across the country.
Wendy Watson is the chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente Northwest.
“I'm excited we're part of this last sprint to get to 70%,” Watson said.
Kaiser’s deadline is July 9. You must get your shot by then to be eligible. Winners could get a variety of prizes from family trips to wellness retreats, gym memberships and more. The names will come from its pool of members who got vaccinated or nonmembers who get the shot at a Kaiser sites in several states, including everyone at the Oregon Convention Center.
Yes, you read that correctly. Everyone who got vaccinated at the Oregon Convention Center will be entered into Kaiser’s sweepstakes drawings.
“We have vaccinated just shy of 300,000 people in Oregon Convention Center. All of those people will be automatically entered into this immunity sweepstakes,” said Watson. They will join tens of thousands from other Kaiser areas who also got vaccinated against COVID.
All these incentives are aimed at new people but they also include everyone who got the shot from last December on.
Have a question or comment for Pat Dooris? Email him at pdooris@kgw.com