June 2, 2021
From May 11 to Memorial Day on May 31, 5,365 people in Maine who got their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine received one of six incentives to get outdoors, part of Governor Mills’ effort to promote vaccination and healthy activity. This represents 12 percent of 46,271 adults who received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine during this period.
Announced during a discussion of successful vaccination efforts with President Biden and other Governors on May 11, this time-limited initiative called Your Shot To Get Outdoors offered incentives to get a first COVID-19 vaccine including:
- Fishing Licenses for the 2021 fishing season for Maine residents;
- Hunting License for the 2021 hunting season for eligible Maine residents;
- Maine Wildlife Park Pass for admission for two people through the 2021 season;
- Maine State Park Day Pass for one vehicle through June 15, 2021;
- L.L. Bean Gift Card for $20;
- Sea Dogs Admission Ticket for a baseball game at Hadlock Field in Portland for 2021 regular season; and
- Oxford Plains Speedway Pass for one of its weekly events in the 2021 racing season.
Most people chose an L.L. Bean gift card. Free fishing licenses were the second most popular choice.
Most (4,011 or 75%) of people getting the vaccine incentives were under the age of 50.
Younger people were more likely to choose visiting a State Park or the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.
The Shot to Get Outdoors incentives were more popular in counties with relatively low vaccination rates, including Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Piscataquis.
This incentive program has now concluded and Maine is exploring other efforts to encourage COVID-19 vaccination.