Offering prizes to improve Nunavut’s COVID-19 vaccination rate would be a worthwhile endeavour, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main said in the legislative assembly on May 28.
“It is surprising to see the numbers of residents who are loathe to get vaccinated within Nunavut,” Main said, adding that Arviat and Whale Cove have introduced prizes to entice more residents to get their Moderna doses. He would like to see the Government of Nunavut take a similar approach.
Premier Joe Savikataaq noted that 60 per cent of people in Nunavut ages 18 and up have received both shots.
“There have been 17,000 Nunavummiut vaccinated and 15,000 who have received their second vaccinations. The numbers are continually increasing, but when it comes to a stall, we can consider other options,” the Premier said. “We’re not opposed to any new ideas. There’s going to be a new round of vaccinations for people between the ages of 12 and 18 and we will look at that number of people who are getting vaccinated.”
Main asked whether the GN would consider the donations of assets or money from entities outside of government and use those donations to hold a “Nunavut sweepstakes” or “Nunavut lottery.”
Savikataaq replied, “We haven’t reached that point yet whether we’re going to be holding lotteries. We have to work with the minister of Health before we think of things like that, but we haven’t reached that point yet.”