Across the state rewards, prizes and raffles are being held, encouraging more Californians to get vaccinated.
Most recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that new cash incentives would be up for grabs to vaccinated Californias. His new initiative plan, the largest in the U.S., will distribute $116.5 million to Californians through different lottery and reward programs.
They include a $15 million cash prize for 10 vaccinated Californians and a $50,000 cash prize for 30 vaccinated Californians.
Starting June 1, CVS is also jumping on the incentive bandwagon with a vaccine sweepstakes.
They will be giving away a plethora of prizes, including a seven-day stay on a Norwegian Cruise line, a trip to the next Super Bowl and VIP tickets to various concerts.
Those vaccinated at a CVS or who will have had their shots by July 10 are eligible for prizes.
Other cities have already been using incentives to encourage people still on the fence about getting vaccinated. Long Beach announced a rewards program earlier this month.
Anyone vaccinated in Long Beach is automatically included in a raffle and can win a stay at a local hotel, Apple AirPods or a Nintendo Switch. The city also recently gave away more than 5,700 tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific to people getting vaccinated.
And the incentives seem to be working, according to Long Beach COVID-19 vaccine program Manager Gabriela Hurtado. She has seen the number of people receiving their first dose of the vaccine double since announcing the rewards.
"It's been great, and in addition to the incentives, we also expanded the age groups, so it's been good to see some of the younger community members getting excited about being vaccinated."
Hurtado said the city is choosing to include tickets to cultural sites such as the aquarium and sporting events because those places have been off-limits for over a year.
"We want to provide the sense of protection with the vaccine, but we also want to give people something to look forward to after they're vaccinated," she said.
Long Beach resident Stephanie Nelson arrived Thursday at the Convention Center for her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. She didn't know the city was rewarding people for getting vaccinated, but she was excited to learn that she was in the running for a hotel stay.
"It would be a mini-vacation," she said. "I would love it."
But Nelson added that the real reward is protection from COVID-19.
"You shouldn't decide to get a prize, to be safe for yourself," she said.
Last week Fatima Chaco went to the Convention Center to receive her vaccine. The 15-year-old was excited about getting the shot and about receiving last week's reward, which was tickets to the aquarium for herself and her family. Chaco said getting to visit the aquarium was the perfect post-COVID activity.
"It was so much fun," she said. "They gave us three tickets to the aquarium. It was a new experience for me. I loved seeing the parrots and sharks. It was the perfect distraction from my sore arm."