Discounted takeaways and taxi rides are being offered to young people in Britain in a bid to boost Covid-19 vaccine uptake, according to the BBC.
Food delivery and taxi-hailing firms including Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo and Pizza Pilgrims will offer incentives to people to get vaccinated. The Department of Health said details on more partnerships would be released ‘in due course’.
Everyone over 18 has been able to sign up for a Covid jab in England since mid-June, and two thirds of 18 to 29 year olds have come forward so far. But, according to the BBC, that’s much lower than the population as a whole and ministers are desperate to increase uptake before the end of summer.
According to the report, ride-hailing firm Uber will send reminders to all users in August urging them to get vaccinated – and will offer discounted rides and meals on its Uber Eats platform for young people who have the vaccine.
Bolt, another taxi app firm, will offer ‘free ride credit’ to vaccination centres, while food delivery firm Deliveroo will give vouchers to young people who get vaccinated.
The Department of Health said other incentives could include ‘vouchers or discount codes for people attending pop-up vaccine sites and booking through the NHS, social media competitions and promotional offers for restaurants’.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid thanked companies for ‘stepping up’ to help the vaccine drive, and urged people to ‘take advantage of the discounts’.
The BBC reported that ministers were in talks with other firms – and discounts in cafes, restaurants and cinemas could follow soon.