The world is going through a phase of vaccination at present as it attempts to keep the Covid-19 pandemic in check, and in Long Beach, California, residents are being offered incentives to get themselves protected.
As part of the city's incentive program to encourage vaccinations, those who get their jab before this coming Saturday at any city-run vaccination site will automatically be entered into a prize draw. Up for grabs is a Nintendo Switch console or the chance to stay at a local hotel for two nights. Parental consent will be required for those under the age of 18.
Explaining the initiative, Mayor Robert Garcia said:
We are going to continue to provide incentives and new ideas to get residents vaccinated. We continue to vaccinate folks every day and these drawings are another way of reaching different populations.
This isn't the first time the city has used prizes to tempt people into getting the vaccine – last week, two free tickets to the 'Aquarium of the Pacific' were up for grabs.
So far, 53,223 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Long Beach, with 934 deaths.
[source nbclosangeles.com]
Comments 80
That's like getting a PS5 for having a flu jab. Why give a prize?
@Jackpaza0508 To encourage people do the responsible thing and get vaccinated. Thanks to science, we have a solution to covid-19.
*Happily got my 1st 💉 on May 14th.
I would say if people are willing to leave their lives at risk at the hand of the virus then a nominal gesture like this isn't going to sway them.
Do nothing, get something (May) So why not?
(Please i'm asking you guys now, think before you post, or you might turn this comment section into pure hell, please, I don't want to wake up to see 200 comment's LOL)
The more people get vaccinated, the quicker this will all be over. Get your vaccine people.
@Snatcher - Yeah, probably better to shut it down now. Honestly.
If you can afford to live in Long Beach, surely you can afford a Switch?
This isn't the first time I've heard of a state, town, etc. offering incentives to get the vaccine (For example, the state of West Virginia is offering $100 savings bonds to those between ages 16-35 who get vaccinated). Conversely, in the state I live in, they'd probably find some way to tax the vaccine if it wouldn't be blatantly illegal.
COVID19 has haunted the entire world, and has killed so many. The vaccine saves lives, and is free. Who needs an incentive to get it? This just feels tacky?
Funny how people complain about vaccines when they've been getting jabbed with a syringe since they were babies. If you travel to a foreign country, especially in the Carribean or Latin America, you have to get vaccinated. You're not some freedom superhero because you don't want a vaccine. Get over yourself nerds 😄
@Tyranexx Shame people can’t focus on the bigger picture here, no? Is it that hard to consider lives above money?
@YorkshireNed Dude have you been to Long Beach? Haven't you ever seen the Snoop Dogg video? I mean seriously people 😳
https://youtu.be/YTSLSb575pk
@Kalmaro To be fair, vaccine shortage is not an issue in the United States so that’s not a valid reason at this point. They wouldn’t be giving out freebies as incentive if that were the case. Also, getting this vaccine isn’t just for your individual health, but for the courtesy and appreciation for the lives of others around you.
@Papichulo - I think a lot people have is that it's still experimental. Outside emergency use protocols, I don't think any of them has been approved by FDA or others.
And the last time that happened was roughly in the 70s with the Swine Flu, with similar actors and events. Only to find out years later some of the vaccines caused paralysis among others.
So because of that, it's likely many are approaching this vaccine with caution. I know my mother ain't touching it till it's approved for that very reason I mentioned.
@TheJGG Not in some mindsets, unfortunately. To be fair, the latter half of my comment was tongue-in-cheek (Hence the winky face). But the state I live in (IL) is known for having very high property, state, and local taxes on average.
@JaneBear I'm actually in the US, we just recently started rolling out more shots here. It just hasn't gotten to the point where it's like going to a fast-food restaurant and everyone can just get it when you want.
@Paraka That's something I don't think a lot of eople are considering.
We know some vaccines got taken back because of blood clots,. Someone will just say, "Okay sure, but that was only a few people!"
Wrong, that was only a few people so far. We have no idea what the long term effects of the vaccine(s) will be. This was rushed out and I just don't see the risk of doing who knows what to myself that we haven't really confirmed, vs what will likely just me getting covid and having to take a day or two off work before being fine after.
@Kalmaro Here’s a quote regarding blood clots.
Of 21.2 million doses of AstraZeneca given in the UK by April 14th 2021, there were 168 cases of blood clots, and 32 deaths resulting. That’s approximately 8 cases per million, or 0.0008%.
@Kalmaro Hmm. Not sure where you live, but most states are desperate to get shots in arms and have huge surplus.
@Kalmaro - It's a pretty heavy topic amongst my family. Since, at the time of the Swine Flu, about a quarter of my family that existed at the time died with complications with vaccine, several via suicide due to not wanting to endure the side effects.
My mother chose not to get it, and with a new grandchild on the way, she will prefer to risk it than to never feel their hugs. So taking the experimental vaccine wouldn't make her a hero, and is she suffers the more tragic effects, then she is just a shlump to the same people talking it up, a numb shlump for the rest of her life.
So I get where the caution is coming from.
@Paraka I'm just going to be cautious for now. I still mask up, bathe in hand sanitizer, social distance, don't lick doorknobs, etc etc. I'm just not taking these vaccines.
@JaneBear They are, and I wouldn't say it's scare, so much that, here, you have to schedule your appointment still. It's still slowly being rolled out.
@nessisonett Yeah, for right now. I believe those numbers were also from people reporting it in, IIRC. That would suggest that the numbers are actually higher.
So then the question becomes, will we be seeing even more from people later down the line who took those vaccines? Who knows?
@Kalmaro Here’s what we do know. People are dying from COVID all over the world. The numbers of people dying from COVID is a lot higher than the numbers suffering from blood clots. That’s the factual situation. The concerns about long-lasting effects from the vaccine are unfounded for now. Whereas long COVID is already being documented. Again, that is a fact. Make of that what you will.
@Kalmaro
The COVID-19 vaccine wasn’t rushed out. This is a misconception and flat-out ignorance parroted by uninformed people
It’s thanks to vaccines that we can have huge, densely populated cities without extremely high death rates.
Get your damn vaccine people, they shouldn't need to use free games to bribe you
Hey NL staff you might wanna lock comments here in case things get spicier...
@PBandSmelly Amen. There are things that are being posted here that can get people ultimately killed.
For all those who continue to make the argument that you don't need the vaccine because you're healthy on your own, please remember the following:
It's not all about you. Even if you're asymptomatic, you can spread it to others less healthy than you. And those you spread it to will spread it to others and on and on. You're also protecting those whose health will not permit them to get the vaccine.
If you're in a position to get the shot, please do. Johnson and Johnson has been the only shot to show dangerous side effects in a very small amount of people (as has been explained here already). But there are two other options. The FDA has already approved them for emergency use and a full approval is underway.
I realize this is all common sense, but with all the misinformation circulating, I feel it's helpful to lay these things out from time to time.
Editing to note that this is from an American perspective. I can't speak to the resources available in other countries.
@Phostachio I'm not anti-vaccination. Actually, I'm 100% the opposite. However I do ask one simple thing, I want the vaccine to be fully tested (including long term) before I allow it inside my body.
So in 5-10 years I'd be happy to take the Covid-vaccin. (If it's still needed by then)
@Phostachio The article you linked even points out how the FDA compressed the usual 6-9 months testing time to weeks. It also uses one reason for why things were so fast as "Risk versus reward"
Why is there a risk? Well, it's because things were pushed through so fast. Yes, we did have previous data on other vaccines and viruses, that does not mean that things were not rushed. The article does not disprove things being rushed, it just goes into how things were done so quickly.
@nessisonett I'm not disagreeing with you. My point was only that the numbers that we have are most like higher than reported and there's always the chance that they could be even higher over time. We just don't know for sure yet.
My job gave me $75 to get vaccinated. I was gonna anyway, but I’m not gonna turn down $75.
@Deliesh Do you know the numbers of how many people passed on Covid while being asymptomatic?
@Kalmaro Agreed. The comment section is naturally being moderated, as one would expect, mentioning this as the first half of this comment was removed.
The reality of the situation, regardless of one's stance, is that every person's medical situation is unique, and every SARS-CoV-2 vaccine currently available to consumers was researched, produced, trialed, and rolled out for public use in less than 365 days. The average vaccine typically undergoes years of research and development, and can often exceed ten years of R&D before it even reaches human testing trials. They are absolutely 210% not fully safe for human use currently, as the headlines underreported by the corporate media conglomerates those who pretend to support all vaccination as a principle actively opposed not even ten years ago increasingly indicate; and regardless of what propaganda one chooses to read, patience is absolutely the intelligent option. Be kind to each other.
@Kalmaro millions of people have gotten the vaccine already champ, let’s compare COVID-19 vaccine death rates to COVID-19 death rates. My father in-law died from COVID right before Christmas, he was only a couple of months away from being able to get the vaccine. I have zero tolerance for this anti-vaccine narrative you guys are pushing.
To bad there’s no electricity to charge the thing.
Zippo didn't predict this one 😋
@kalmaro Also, another thing. Where do you guys get this idea that every vaccine has to be made from scratch, that scientists start from a blank slate? We have years and years of research, experience, and advancements in medicine that are growing exponentially. Why does every vaccine have to have the same amount of time to create, despite our ever-growing progress? That’s incredibly simple-minded.
I think that a Nintendo Switch is a bizarre incentive, especially because it is just the chance to win one.
@Kalmaro
I'm not sure what that first part is even in reference to.
I'm not at a "health risk" either. Call me completely, totally insane, but I kinda like having stores and establishments open, and I also like the idea of not being sick with viruses, bacteria, and other pathegens.
Insane, I know. 😋🙄
@Menardi hehe, thanks. I’ve majored in journalism and I think that’s really helped. Trying to understand situations from all sides. Getting viewpoints from all kinds of people. And I’ve just generally found in life that a bit of understanding and compassion for other people tends to go a lot farther than being argumentative. At least then even if you don’t come out agreeing, you won’t come miserable and unhappy with each other, either.
If you have any trepidations or doubts taking the vaccine, talk with your doctor on the matter and inform yourself from a professional you can trust. It’s their job to suggest the best course of action for your health.
@Kyloctopus ^ This, don’t take advice from newscasters, podcasters and especially not dudes in a comment section for a Nintendo fan site. That includes me, I don’t know your situation and maybe you really can’t get the vaccine due to health issues. Inform yourself.
@StardusterEX Precisely. As is usually the case in life, the reality of the situation is somewhere in the middle. Obviously there is a lot of money to be made and influence to be gained from manipulating people into treating each other like dogs, hence the general state of affairs in the west today, while China laughs.
A reminder to users that the report function exists for a reason. Debate is OK, jumping to bizarre toxic-masculinity fuelled insults is not.
@NikHogan The MRNA development platform does allow for the development of faster vaccines. Who TF pushed this idea that it was developed "too fast?" No scientist, that's for sure. It's irrelevant how it "feels" to one, if it's not backed up by facts. I found this article quite good on the topic. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-did-we-develop-a-covid-19-vaccine-so-quickly#Funding-for-COVID-19-vaccine-research
I would then ask, what's the alternative? Wear masks forever? Keep everything shut/partially shut forever? Do absolutely nothing and let the virus kill off as many people as possible until some kind of natural immunity is reached? Call me an insane crazy person, but I kind of like having shops and establishments open, and to be able to travel around freely and whatnot. Shocking, I know. 😋
What about varients? Viruses do this thing called mutate (the viral equivalent to evolving) As we've already seen, covid-19 is mutating into other varients. What if a new varient comes along, is suddenly resistant to these current vaccines, and we plunge right back into the crap all over again? It always comes down to selfish people who won't do their small part to aid the group effort, and the rest suffer for it. Like a classmate who puts in 5% effort on a 4-person group project, yet gets equal credit for the final grade.
I can also easily throw it back and mention the unknown long term effects of a post-covid infection on the body. The virus itself is harmful. This vaccines sole job is to defend against said harmful virus. I'm happy to do just that and protect myself and others around me.
Maybe one say science will allow myself to replace my weak, frail, crappy human body with machine parts and nanotech. That would be awesome. But until then, gotta make due with what science's best has given us.
@Phostachio Yeah, I get that. I’ve seen what it can do to people in my life first-hand. No one’s died from it, thankfully, but I know people who have been left with long-term, if not permanent, damage from it.
On one hand, after seeing that, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that people not getting it are selfish and unwilling to protect others. But it’s important to understand what they’re going through, too. These are scary times for everyone. We just don’t currently know what long-term side-effects could come up later down the road. If people who don’t/can’t get the vaccine (and people who do, when appropriate!) continue to take precautions in public and around people at greater risk, I think we’ll come out okay in the end overall.
People on both sides of the vaccine and political spectrum need to respect the other. It’s easy to call someone from either side an extremist, but I think the majority are closer to the middle and genuinely make their choices from positions of what they view as love and caring. Maybe sometimes fear and self-preservation as well. But name-calling and getting defensive isn’t going to sway anyone towards any kind of viewpoint.
@deafswin37 Great statement. 🙄 What's "that" exactly?
@Desrever I absolutely agree with that, I have an in-law that’s like that and it’s certainly an issue. However there’s a couple key differences here: those all-natural, all-organic folks are definitely a much smaller crowd, and they aren’t basing their reluctance purely on a political game. These crazies on the right are being radicalized by a lot of high-profile Republicans, by social media, and frankly by completely morons like Joe Rogan. Not getting the vaccine because you believe Democrats are evil is the worst reason I’ve seen not to do anything.
@StardusterEX Thank you for being you. Seriously. You’re who I needed to converse with, because honestly I hold the same views as you and I guess raw emotion got the better of me. I went to a Dodgers game with my wife last night and she was just so down because this was the first time since being together that we didn’t go with her dad, and it was hard. Then seeing a group of guys complain and gripe because they had to keep their masks on during the game made things worse, and my wife cried herself to sleep. We’ve both been vaccinated for nearly two months and we still willingly wear masks every where we go because we’re compassionate and care about the well-being of others, and it’s just frustrating to see how selfish people can be. My apologies.
In other news the Nintendo Switch is near 100 million consoles sold
@Trickbaby14 @BiscuitCrumbsInMyBed
Walnuts
Peanuts
Coconut Gun
@NikHogan
I got both of my vaccines already, and because it was rushed I am suddenly given the urge to buy microsoft products and move closer to 5G towers
@PBandSmelly I almost spit my coffee out
@Arkay Hey where did you get your profile pic .. That is really cool
@Kalmaro "Are you not entertained!?" - Maximus Decimus Meridius
@nessisonett I believe the last line is "pineapple smells"
@Trickbaby14 Not being honest up front and saying "Bro, we need our mask supply for our medical workers. Hang tight until we produce some extras for everyone else" did irreparable damage to public health authorities image.
A combination of vaccinations, massive numbers of people who already got infected (and died or got someone else killed) thus reaching a higher % of heard immunity, warmer weather which makes communicable illnesses harder to spread outdoors vs a colder place like Ontario where people stay inside longer, are all factors to consider. Giving Texas credit that their numbers were accurate, Texas is no bastion of a stunning success story with covid. It's history is one of the worst, when we look at the data, which is SELF-REPORTED btw. No conspiracy there to fudge numbers.
I'm not playing favourites here. My province of Ontario has done a horrible job on covid numbers & deaths.
@Menardi Coconut gun
Ahhhh, there's the purge of comments. Saw that coming, lol.
@nessisonett I want a Coconut gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
@deafswin37 It's from Goldeneye 007! It appears on some of the displays/consoles ingame.
@nessisonett 🍍
I don't want these types of vaccines because I have heard so many side effects short term and long term. We will see the final results in the future. I will wait for a safer antidote / vaccine. If I wanted to get vaccinated, I would prefer the chinese which is the normal old-school !
@Phostachio I know, it hurts. Similar, but different... I lost my grandpa recently. Dementia, not covid, though I know the isolation in this last year didn’t help at all. And it might be presumptuous on my part, but whether we’re right or we’re wrong in the end, I don’t feel like the people we’ve lost would want us arguing with people and feeling miserable afterwards. 😢 They’d just want us living our best lives with the time we’ve got left.
Gosh, allow me to finish deleting comments before you guys start complaining, I'm going in order! Tsk tsk
@Menardi The other line is ‘His pineapple smells, can fire in spurts’
@Desrever I doubt they could even spell "edumacation". 😝🧐
@deafswin37
Oops I've been fully vaccinated for a month now and I'm gonna be tracked through microchips or something oooooooo
@Arkay Nice! I wish they could bring goldeneye to the switch
@StardusterEX Truer words are rarely spoken!
@StardusterEX My father died of Covid last year he was 85
@nessisonett The song is baudy enough as it is, my friend! 🍍🍇🥥🥜🦚
@Eel Sorry sorry, I'll wait longer next time, haha.
Though I'm not even mad, I was waiting for it.
Got my 2nd dose a week ago.
Too bad I don't live in Long Beach.
Sigh that will do for now I think. If I missed anything anyone thinks needs to be looked at too, feel free to report the comment.
And let's not discuss politics, or complain about the validity of the vaccines and stuff that will get derailed like that, please. This is not the place for it, and we will be giving time outs starting now.
@Eel Cool Profile pic i like that one too
@deafswin37 Dream come true, although I much rather have Perfect Dark. 🥴
@Arkay Yeah that would be cool too one can hope
@StardusterEX probably the best comment I’ve read on our site in a long time (the one where you mention studying journalism)
Im good.. Going to take my chances without the shot.
Stop trying to start another argument. Last warning. -Eel
So many anti-vaccine people. You think you're exercising your freedom but you're literally contributing to the death of others.
I got covid last year in November, and as such I don't need the vaccine. I recovered fine, even if it took a few months. One lasting effect for me is very occasional coughing, other than that I seem fine. But I don't see why a giveaway would make someone who's adamantly against vaccines go get one. Maybe it's just for people too lazy to get one?
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