Sussex University has offered vaccinated students a chance of winning £5,000 in a bid to drive uptake.
Students, who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, will entered into the prize draw. If their name is picked out and they can prove they’ve been jabbed, they win the cash prize.
Ten winners will be selected to receive £5,000 each to prove they are fully vaccinated or exempt.
Professor Adam Tickell, the vice-chancellor at Sussex, said the prize raffle was worth it if
the numbers being vaccinated could be boosted even slightly.
“We know take-up among young people is patchy,” he said. “We know they’re not against
the vaccine. They’re just not getting round to it.”
He added the financial cost to the university of the scheme was small compared to the
human and social cost of potential disruption to students.
“We know transmission rates are lower with vaccination, and the risk of serious illness for
our staff and students is much lower in people who’ve been vaccinated.”
Govt Response
The UK government has said proof of vaccination will be required for nightclubs from September.
Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: “Vaccines are the surest way to put Covid
behind us and for students to reclaim the freedoms that enrich university life.
“The department is encouraging universities to look at creative ways to boost uptake, and
to discuss the possibility of pop-up centres with local health partners – making it quick and
easy for students to grab a jab.”
WHO Raises Alarm Bells
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a new COVID wave across
Europe as the Delta coronavirus variant spreads through the region.
The UK has been under the spotlight given rising numbers of new coronavirus cases with the Delta variant.
Many countries have restricted travel from the UK because of the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Travellers from Britain are now required to show proof of their vaccination. For those who have not been vaccinated, they must produce a negative RT PCR test report.
