LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — The University of Lethbridge says it's worth a shot for students to get vaccinated before school starts this fall.
The university in southern Alberta announced Monday that students who receive a COVID-19 vaccination before Sept. 9 are eligible to win one of nine grand prizes of full tuition for this fall, which are worth about $3,600 each.
University president Mike Mahon says the school is not making vaccinations mandatory to attend, but notes the contest is a great idea to encourage people to get their shots.
"We know that when we talked to our students, generally speaking, there is enthusiasm about the uptake. But we do know that there are some folks that are a little more hesitant about vaccinations for various reasons," Mahon said.
"So we wanted to provide a very positive, encouraging message."
Mahon said it's been a difficult year for students who have had to take classes online. He said it's had a serious impact on their mental health and appointments with health professionals have skyrocketed.
"We're trying to encourage students to think about their future, to be optimistic about the future. So let's create, in essence, some scholarships that are tied to emerging from COVID that are about the future for these students," he added.
Mahon also hopes to have a vaccination clinic at the university when classes begin in the fall.
He said encouraging 10,000 students and staff to get vaccinated would be a significant part of Lethbridge's population, which is about 100,000 people.
Alberta also opened up vaccinations Monday to everyone 12 and older, which he said made it an ideal time to announce the plan.
Alberta currently has the highest COVID-19 rate in Canada and enough vaccine to give 45 per cent of its population a first dose.
More than half of the students enrolled at the university are from Alberta, but Mahon said the contest is also open to international students as long as they're living in Canada.
The tuition prizes also include student administrative, recreation services and fine arts access fees. Seven of the awards are to go to undergraduate students at the Lethbridge campus, one to a student at its campus in Calgary and one to a graduate student.
There will also be $500 gift certificates to the school's bookstore.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 10, 2021.
— By Bill Graveland in Calgary
The Canadian Press
