After mandating vaccinations for workers and many students — and offering prize money — to nudge a sceptical public to get the jab, Palestinian officials report a big boost in vaccine uptake they hope will stem a surge in Covid-19 infections, according to Reuters.

Officials in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank announced the new rules last week after many shunned the vaccine due to misinformation online — even as authorities accumulated enough doses to cover most Palestinians over 12.

In addition to mandating jabs for public sector workers and those in jobs dealing with the public, as well as teachers and students above 15, Gaza now offers a chance at $200 — a hefty sum for Palestinians in the impoverished territory — to anyone over 50 who gets inoculated. Ten winners are chosen daily.