John Delaney, a former Democratic congressman and presidential candidate, has proposed giving Americans ready to receive a $1,500 stimulus check for a coronavirus vaccine.
What We Know:
- Millions of Americans are still awaiting the second round of stimulus checks to help them through the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meantime, the U.S. government is arranging to distribute vaccinations to the American public to terminate the public health crisis.
- This proposal strives to help both efforts by giving people $1,500 stimulus checks to get immunized. The concept originated from entrepreneur John Delaney, a previous Democratic congressman for Maryland and who also ran for the 2020 presidency.
Pay everyone $1500 to get vaccine
It is a stimulus check & big vaccine incentive rolled into one
Result: more people get vaccine, it saves lives, helps people financially, and the $400 B pays for itself w/ economic boost from ending pandemic
RT if you agree #vaccinestimulus
— John Delaney (@JohnDelaney) November 20, 2020
- “The faster we get 75 percent of this country vaccinated, the faster we end Covid, and the sooner everything returns to normal,” He stated in an interview with CNBC.com.
- Congress has fought for months to agree on the next coronavirus stimulus package. Republicans and Democrats are still at odds, even as it seems 12 million people could no longer have unemployment benefits in a few weeks if there is nothing done. The idea of more stimulus checks, once an area of bipartisan agreement, now appears nowhere in the works.
- When The U.S Centers for Disease Control (CDC) met this week to determine who should be first in line to get vaccinated, they will be distributed to Americans free of charge when the vaccines are approved. But some individuals may be scared to take the newly developed treatments. A Gallup poll discovered that 58% of Americans stated they would get a Covid-19 vaccine.
- “We have to create, in my judgment, an incentive for people to really accelerate their thinking about taking the vaccine,” Delaney said. Specifically, individuals who do not feel safe getting the vaccine will not be forced to receive one.
“If you’re still afraid of the vaccine and don’t want to take it, that’s your right,” Delaney said. “You won’t participate in this program.”But guess what?” he added. “You’re going to benefit anyhow because we’ll get the country to herd immunity faster, which benefits you. So I think everyone wins.”
- The government could create a system where people would get a number once they get vaccinated to carry out the plan. Once they enter that number along with their Social Security number, they would get a check.
Currently, there are no official plans on Capitol Hill to tie stimulus check eligibility to Covid-19 vaccinations. Delaney mentioned he had handled requests about the recommendation from former colleagues on the progressive and moderate sides.
