In a bid to hike up the vaccination process and get more people to be vaccinated with one of the CDC or US approved COVID-19 vaccines, Florida State University announced a lottery for students providing proof of vaccination.
As per the notification, the FSU will be conferring prizes to the vaccinated students. The opportunity opens up chances for 16 students to win either a US$3,500 tuition and fee assistance, FSE Bookstore Gift Cards, An Apple iPad, Dining Dollars and an opportunity to use the Luxury Suite for the FSU Commencement Ceremony.
As the Delta Variant cases of COVID-19 rise in Florida, students have raised concerns regarding classes being moved online once again. The concerns remain valid as some of the 'in-person classes' have been moved to 'synchronous flex'classes. However, the option is beneficial for students, as the students get to decide if they wish to attend the classes either online or in-person.
As per the email received by FSU students, sent by Kyle Clark, Vice-President for Finance and Administration, he advocated being fully vaccinated as the most effective and best solution to protect oneself from being infected by the latest variant of the vaccination, thus, also preventing the need to disrupt studies, teaching, social activities, work or research.
However, according to the CDCs definition of being 'fully vaccinated', individuals who have received the two-shot vaccinations such as Moderna or Pfizer or the one-shot vaccination like Johnson & Johnson, are considered to be fully vaccinated. These individuals are less likely to be affected by the Delta Variant and even display severe symptoms either.
Kyle Clarks email urges students to find a sport for them to receive their vaccinations, as students have been given the necessary information to locate and make the necessary appointments.
Also Read: Harvard University to Offer COVID Vaccination Jabs to International Students Upon Arrival
For students to participate and win the contest, they need to provide proof of vaccination, which include the COVID-19 vaccine card received by the individuals at the vaccination site, a Florida Shots Record received from a general doctor, or an international or state vaccine record for students who did not receive their vaccinations from Florida.
As per the rules, students need to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021, at 11 p.m., thus making the end of August a prime time to receive the vaccination. The winners of the competition will be determined by 15th October 2021.
Also Read: John Hopkins University to Accept Only FDA-Approved COVID-19 Vaccines
Further, as Florida State University continues to remove its regulation of using masks within the campus, the University will also stop its provision for COVID-19 housing, all international students, as well as those choosing campus housing, will have to find off-campus housing if they are tested positive for COVID-19 to quarantine for 10 days. This should further incentivise the need to be vaccinated, as finding an accommodation to be quarantined in for 10 days may be an ordeal that most students may not want to face.
Many stakeholders expect and hope that the vaccine lottery incentives could motivate the students to receive their vaccinations, thus also hiking up the vaccination rate at the university. The positives of the lottery will also result in maintaining in-person classes and scheduling in-person events while keeping students, faculty and staff safe.
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