Leidos will split $1 million among 10 randomly selected employees to encourage them to get vaccinated.Each employee who is chosen will be paid enough money to cover one year of pay.With 47.9% of Americans fully vaccinated and just below the 50% mark, the US is very close to the 50 percent threshold.Subscribe to the Insider Healthcare Newsletter for the most recent healthcare news and analysis sent straight to your inbox Loading Click Sign up to receive marketing emails and other offers from Insider.Leidos, a major contractor in IT for the government, has joined the vaccination drive.The company, valued at $14 billion, is based in Virginia. The Washington Post reported that it plans to give $1 million to 10 random employees of its 40,000 global workforce as an incentive to get immunized.Each employee will be paid enough cash to cover one year of pay. Managers are not eligible."Leidos has worked for more than 50 years to make the world safer and healthier.Roger Krone (CEO of Leidos), stated in a press release that today we are increasing the size of this charter. "Through this campaign we are investing in people and providing an incentive to save lives. It is possible toIf you can encourage even one person to get the vaccine it is money well spent.The Move the Needle sweepstakes was launched by the company on June 28 and will continue through October 29, 2021.New York, Maryland and Kentucky all offer cash prizes to fully vaccinated Americans. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a $20 scratch-off lottery ticket was available for free in order to have a chance at $5 million.President Joe Biden had set a goal to get 70% of Americans vaccinated before the Fourth of July. However, that goal was not met. 331 million doses have been administered of the COVID-19 vaccination, but only 147 millions Americans are fully vaccinated. The USA is now at just 47.9%, which puts it below the 50% mark.Krone explained to The Washington Post that there has been a slowdown in vaccine distribution at his company and across the country. "We believe there is a great need to gently push those who are still on the fence and give them another reason to get it."Many economists agree that lotteries could be a way to encourage people not to get vaccinated.Insider reported that employers can legally require employees to be vaccinated before they return to work. Employers have the right to prohibit employees from returning to work if they refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
