Chickens, cows, paid leave, even a million-dollar apartment, these are the prizes on offer from Thailand to Indonesia to Hong Kong for those who get vaccinated against Covid-19 as nations across Asia combat vaccine hesitancy.
As more transmissible variants of the virus have driven a surge in cases in Southeast Asia in recent weeks, authorities have started offering chances in lucky draws for vaccinations.
In Thailand’s Mae Chaem district in northern Chiang Mai, where most residents are cattle farmers, authorities launched a cow raffle this month that is proving to be a hit.
“This is the best gift ever,” said 65-year-old Inkham Thongkham, upon winning a one-year-old female cow worth 10,000 baht (S$425.50) after he received his coronavirus vaccine.
Now in its second week and with 27 cows to award, authorities say the campaign has prompted more than 50 per cent of the 1,400 residents in the district – many elderly and in high-risk groups – to register for their vaccines.
Out of Thailand’s population of 66 million, just 4.76 million have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Many across Asia have been reluctant to get vaccinated, with widespread disinformation and uncertainty fuelling hesitancy over safety, efficacy and religious concerns.
In Hong Kong, where the pandemic has largely been kept under control so far, authorities are concerned that low rates of vaccination could still leave the Chinese territory susceptible to a virulent outbreak.
Shopping vouchers, flights, and a new apartment worth HK$10.8 million (S$1.8 million) are among the incentives on offer in lucky draws there for those who have been vaccinated.
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Some businesses are taking additional steps, offering paid leave for those who have been inoculated. One private sports club, though, is using punishment instead of rewards, instructing its staff to get vaccinated by the end of June or be denied future bonuses, promotions and pay rises.
Even in countries hit hard by the coronavirus, such as Indonesia, authorities have struggled to allay vaccine fears.
Indonesia has officially reported more than 1.9 million coronavirus infections and 53,280 deaths. Recent studies of blood serum samples, however, show the true spread of Covid-19 could be 30 times higher.
“I was afraid that if I was vaccinated, I would die immediately … Then there was more worrying news that this vaccine contained pork,” said Asep Saepudin, a 67-year-old resident of Cipanas, in Indonesia’s West Java province.
Among Indonesian Muslims – who make up more than 85 per cent of the nation’s population – many are worried whether the vaccines are considered halal, or permissible, by Islam.<img alt="" data-caption="Neneng, 62-year-old local of Sindanglaya village, receives her first dose of China's Sinovac Biotech vaccine for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outside her house, during a door-to-door vaccination in Cianjur regency, West Java province, Indonesia, June 15, 2021.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”6cf6895f-b8b1-4d54-bc29-f96d36aac971″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210616_neneng_reuters.jpg”/>
Why Getting Old Folks Vaccinated Is Turning Into a Chicken Hunt
In Cipanas, convincing seniors that the shots are both safe and halal turns out to be a tall order. The community’s elders still carry a healthy skepticism about the new jab, and officials are pulling out all the stops to change the narrative.
Chicken‑the‑Game: A Novel Incentive
- For every older person who swings a finger and gets vaccinated, a tiny live rooster hops right into their arms.
- It’s basically a “keep your family fed” promise: the bird will molt into a full-grown hen, ready to drop eggs for a year.
- Imagine the grandmothers’ delight when they see the chicken’s cackle and that “meaty” promise: Double the eggs, double the smiles.
Why It Works (And Why It’s a Good Idea)
Besides the fact that elderly folks tend to hold on to traditions, this small feathered incentive offers a tangible value. Instead of merely telling them the vaccine is proven, the local authorities give them a friendly little live‑cheerleader that says, “Sure, I’m safe, I’m halal, and I’m also a boon to the kitchen.”
Thailand’s Playbook, Shared in a New Form
It’s no secret that similar incentives took place back in Thailand. There, vaccine drives paired believers with livestock rewards—sometimes chickens or goats—which turned stiff attendance into a community celebration.
- Old men at the market brag about the new hen that’s already clucking in their shop.
- The crowd’s morale surges, converting the public health event into an almost silly, joyous gathering.
With this approach, the older generation in Cipanas feels both reassured and rewarded—plus, they get fresh eggs right at their doorstep.
Bottom Line
Because people are more likely to trust one thing than another when those things get real, the government’s cookie‑cutter strategy of combing through cluster‑care and dropping chickens has struck a chord. Soon, we may see other public health campaigns handing out farm‑friendly solid bonuses to get the message across—who knew vaccines could be that poultry‑friendly?
<img alt="" data-caption="A combination picture shows the locals of Sindanglaya village, posing for pictures while holding a live chicken rewarded after receiving their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, during a door-to-door vaccination in Cianjur regency, West Java province, Indonesia, June 15, 2021.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”a78552e3-4dbc-42f0-adbc-721225f634da” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210616_localsposingforpictures_reuters.jpg”/>”Elderly people don’t want to be vaccinated for various reasons, some say they want to but don’t come, some are even afraid,” said the local district police chief, Galih Aprian,
“So we reward (their participation) with chickens.”
Data from Indonesia’s ministry of health shows that only five per cent, or 8.8 million people, have been fully vaccinated, far fewer than a target of 181.5 million people by the end of the year.
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