Al Arabiya reports that businesses are offering an increasing number of rewards for those who have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. The rewards range from free doughnuts, to money.

In Bahrain, among a variety of incentives, the Bahrain Grand Prix organizers announced that those vaccinated, or who had recovered from the virus, would be eligible to buy tickets for this year’s Formula One season opener. Meanwhile, Al  Salam Bank has also announced it is to waive loan fees for clients who had taken a shot against COVID-19. Uber, in the United Arab Emirates, has offered journeys at a discounted price to people traveling to vaccination centres. Separately, Dubai Taxi said it would give anyone departing from select vaccination centers a ride home at no cost. The Bab Al Shams Desert Resort in Dubai is offering a 25 percent discount on accommodation to visitors with proof that they had received two doses of the vaccine, and Café Ristretto is offering free coffee to those who have taken both doses of the vaccine.

In Beijing, meanwhile, shoppers in one district can now receive discount coupons if they have taken both jabs against the virus.

Doughnut chain ‘Krispy Kreme’ in the United States last week said it would be giving out doughnuts for free to anyone who had received any of the three coronavirus vaccines approved by the US government. Further, Instacart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Chobani, McDonald’s and Dollar General are offering workers time off as well extra remuneration, if they took the vaccine. Kroger is going so far as to grant its employees $100 in store credit for taking the vaccine, while Publix has offered its employees a $125 (roughly R1900) gift card as motivation to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

Umm Muhammed Umar