Sunday, November 17

Giveaways and prizes in Los Angeles make vaccines more attractive

What would you do to win two tickets that have a value of $ 7, 000 each to go for a whole season to watch the Los Angeles Lakers play or to earn free tickets to see the acclaimed play “Hamilton” with the actor, singer, songwriter, Rapper, producer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda?

Both offers and other gifts are available to all residents of the city and County of Los Angeles who come for the first time to get vaccinated against COVID – 19.

“If I win the I give them to my brother, ”said Yesenia Gómez, 21, who received this Saturday the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, in a mobile clinic installed in Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights.

“I would not give it to anyone!”, added his brother Juan. “I’m a Lakers fan.”

Meanwhile, their mother, Catarina Gómez, originally from Huehuetenango, Guatemala, indicated that if she won the reward, she would prefer that her children live the experience of seeing the gold-purple quintet live and direct.

The incentive deployed by health authorities aims to increase vaccination rates, particularly among the Latino community, until now a little reluctant to be immunized due to misinformation or myths about the effects of the vaccine.

“Actually, I was afraid to get vaccinated,” said Hermelinda Moreno, from 62 years resident of Boyle Heights. “In 2015 I had a kidney transplant and this year I fell, I went with a sobadora and she did not want to treat me; She told me that if I was not vaccinated I was sorry, but she did not want me to get sick because she cares for many patients … That made me think and that’s why I came to get vaccinated. ”

She did not know about the contest, but upon learning that he could win the pair of tickets that have a value of $ 14, 000 asked to be enrolled.

In the same Hollenbeck Park, after overcoming a slight pain in his left shoulder and overcoming his phobia of needles, Mohamed Benkhaled, originally from Tunisia and resident of Hollywood, told Real America News that he had his “ good luck ”to be the winner.

Mohamed Benkhaled (left) receives the ticket that accredits you as a participant in the Lakers ticket raffle.

This week, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Health The Los Angeles County public announced that “thanks to the generosity of the Lakers and their deep commitment to to bring us all to safety until the end of the pandemic, a lucky couple will be able to watch live all the Lakers games at home, at the Staples Center for next season, “he said.

Through 16, Latino residents of 16 years or more with one dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines represented the 44. 4% of people inoculated in Los Angeles County, behind Asians (69.4%); White (61. 8%), Alaska Native or Native American Indians (44. 3%) and only ahead of African Americans (39. 2%).

These disparities are similar between people of 65 years or more, according to the official vaccination board of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

María Fernanda Saenz, of 24 year-old said that if he had known about these draws, he would have waited a little longer to get vaccinated, since yesterday he got immunized but it was already his second dose.

“I think it’s good that the authorities look for ways to motivate the community. It is important that we get vaccinated to end the pandemic and we can get out again with peace of mind, “said the young woman.

Not everyone knew about the giveaway but indicated that the incentives are a good idea.

Some rules

To enter the contest, the person must be older than 18 years and receive your first dose at one of the city or county of Los Angeles vaccination sites; The offer expires this Sunday 23 in May, at 11: 59 pm

For more details on the vaccination centers participating in the incentive visit: bit.ly/3yzYWIu

The winner will be announced first week of June. Yes, the award cannot be transferred.

“I am happy because I have already been vaccinated and I will be ready for my graduation as a dental assistant,” said Ruby Esmeralda Quintero, from 20 years, after receiving his vaccination in Obregón Park in Los Aangeles. “I don’t like sport that much, but the Lakers do, that’s why I put my card in the box they gave me to be part of the contest and I think that’s a good way to motivate people to get vaccinated.”

Who got the vaccine was also the girl Allison Camarillo, who was accompanied by her mother, Claudia, to the Obregón Park mobile clinic. Because of her age, Allison will not be able to participate in the contest.

“We have to protect the family,” said the mother of the girl and two other young people from 23 Y 25 years of age.

Among other actions by health authorities, on Saturday an pop-up vaccination clinic was also held at the Pantages Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, where people vaccinated by first time entered a drawing to win a pair of tickets to see the play “Hamilton”.

Other extras

At the local level, another of the cities that joined the incentive initiative was Long Beach, which this week announced that those people who are inoculated in their vaccination places, would enter a raffle to get a chance to win a Nintendo Switch or two nights at a local hotel. This after last week offering tickets to attend Aquarium of the Pacific.

And nationwide, according to SoCalNews, those who can prove they are fully vaccinated can access a donut Krispy Kreme free ride or get a free Uber or Lyft ride to a vaccination site, enter himself May to July 4, 2021.