The Saskatchewan NDP have come up with a plan they think will increase vaccine uptake in the province.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili says with evidence the vaccine rollout is falling behind other provinces, they are calling on the Sask Party to create a “Last Mile Lottery”.  Under the proposal, every Saskatchewan resident who receives two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine would be entered into a $25,000 lottery. The NDP says the amount was chosen as it is roughly the same cost as admitting a COVID-19 patient into a hospital’s intensive care unit. Meili says the incentive would be an excellent way to get all hands on deck, especially as the province is still in a race between vaccines and variants.

“In the first round of the race between vaccines and variants, we saw the variants get ahead.  We need to do better this time around and that’s why were are calling for a last mile strategy.”

The NDP say the lottery would compliment a strategy of proactively reaching out to eligible Saskatchewan residents who have not been vaccinated, more mobile clinics in areas with low vaccine uptake, and working with community leaders to promote vaccine acceptability and uptake in key communities.

“We need to make sure we get to herd immunity, that we get everyone vaccinated, full coverage and protection against COVID-19.  We need to make sure that the right choice is the easy choice.”