To the editor:

I just read the article in the Aug. 14 paper about the amazing and valuable prizes vaccinated KU students can win — for doing what they should be doing without the need for “prizes.” I understand reasonable incentives — that’s one thing — but $15,000 in “cash prizes.” What kind of message is KU sending here? This isn’t a contest; we’re talking about social responsibility. It’s especially hard to read this article after the front page Journal-World article of Aug. 12 – “Strained LMH workers urge residents to get vaccinated,” in which you quote Tanya Eckhardt, RN in ICU: “It’s hard because we’ve been working really hard for our community, every day working overtime. We just want everyone to do the same for us, you know. That’s all we ask. Do your part. The vaccines, as we know, are safe and effective.” How about redirecting these funds, or encouraging the students who win these valuable prizes to donate the money and prizes to front-line workers at LMH who are keeping patients alive — maybe even some KU students — regardless of whether or not they chose to get vaccinated.

Nancy O’Connor,

Lawrence