The highly contagious Delta variant of the COVID-19 has been spreading its wings rapidly across the United States, while the country is only just nearing full vaccination in 50% of its population. To speed up the vaccination process, President Joe Biden has been recently encouraging state and local governments to hand out cash prizes for getting jabbed.

New York, the nation’s biggest city, was the latest city to join the list as it started doling out $100 awards on Friday, according to the Associated Press reports. The president, health authorities, and state leaders are hoping that the financial incentive will persuade individuals who are on the fence about getting the vaccine.

The spread of the Delta variant comes following the sharp drop in the number of daily inoculations from its April high. 

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New York is not participating alone in this initiative. New Mexico helped pioneer cash incentives in June and will be starting another $100 handout for vaccinations from Monday. Ohio is offering $100 to state employees who get vaccinated.

States have attempted lottery-style prizes, free beer, gift cards, and other incentives in the past. Harald Schmidt, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a research associate at the school’s Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, said to AP that it’s unclear whether they’ll lead to more individuals getting vaccinated.

However, such measures imply the desperation that the government at all levels is suffering.

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California gave out $116.5 million in gift cards and prizes, the largest amount of vaccination reward money in the country. By June 15, the goal was to get 70% of eligible persons vaccinated. However, as of Thursday, 62.5% of Californians aged 12 and above were completely vaccinated.

The Biden administration is betting the incentives will work. In a statement this week, the White House cited a grocery store chain that offered $100 to its workers to get the COVID-19 shot and then saw vaccination rates climb.

State and local governments can use federal American Rescue Plan relief funding to provide the $100, according to the statement, according to AP inputs.