Where is my Free Burrito?

Pat Austin Becker
2 min readMay 29, 2021

Incentives are encouraging people to get vaccines.

Photo by Ryan Concepcion on Unsplash

In Louisiana, we are about 32% vaccinated for Covid, and while I in no way want to get into a debate about the pros, cons, and conspiracy theories about the vaccination, I am certainly ready for life to resume its normal flow.

I got the vaccine. I also had Covid back in January, so maybe I still have antibodies, too.

So, where are my incentives?

I mean, states all across the nation are now offering incentives for people to go get this vaccination. I want to be rewarded!

I didn’t get any free crawfish, no free shots of tequila, not even a beignet or a burrito.

These types of incentives are popping up all across the country. Krispy Kreme will give you a free doughnut if you show your vaccination card.

You can get free beer, a Nathan’s hot dog, or tickets to Six Flags.

And I got nothing. Well, I did get a free cup of coffee while I sat and waited my obligatory fifteen minutes after my shot. I guess that counts for something.

And I got the opportunity to burn up fourteen of my sick days while I had Covid. That was fun. Not.

No, it seems that we now live in the land of incentives. If you want something done, offer something for free in return.

I was glad to get my vaccination, to be honest. I was glad to toss off my mask, so happy to walk into a store and see faces again. In many places we can now go to restaurants, see live music events again, and visit folks in nursing homes and hospitals. I would do whatever it takes to put this pandemic year behind us.

In the United States, we are approaching the 50% mark for vaccines, and maybe that is enough to return to normal.

Or maybe we need more incentives.

Pat Austin Becker

Consumer of life, ELA teacher, Louisiana ambassador, avid reader. Author of Cane River Bohemia: Cammie Henry and her Circle at Melrose Plantation (LSU Press).