COVID-19: Uber_ Bolt and Deliveroo to offer vaccinated people discounts

Cheap taxi rides and discounts from the biggest takeaway companies in the UK are to be deployed by the government in a desperate effort to boost Covid vaccination rates among the young_ amid growing legal and political pressure on Boris Johnson over the use of vaccine passports.

With figures inside the cabinet concerned about the plans already in place to enforce vaccine passports in some settings_ the government s focus has turned to using incentives to drive up vaccination rates over the summer to head off another Covid wave as offices_ schools and universities reopen.

Car-hailing companies Uber and Bolt_ as well as delivery service Deliveroo_ are all involved in plans to offer consumers discounts. Latest take-up figures suggest that 60% of 18- to 25-year-olds have received at least one jab_ but ministers are concerned that demand from younger age groups is levelling off.

It comes as Johnson backed away from making full vaccination a condition for allowing students to live and be taught on their university campuses_ amid Tory unrest.

The Observer has learned that the government was last week delivered a stark briefing from university lawyers_ outlining a series of legal obstacles to the plan that would leave them open to a slew of cases_ many of which could apply to other sectors should passports be considered in other areas.

Johnson has already set out plans to make vaccine passports mandatory in some indoor venues such as nightclubs. However_ companies are warning that they could face legal action should they implement  no jab_ no job policies.

Ministers have so far rejected calls to pay the young to have a vaccine_ after US president Joe Biden called for $100 payments to be offered to the newly vaccinated in the United States. However_ ministers are now working with popular cab-hailing and takeaway companies to introduce incentives_ though the firms will not ask for or hold any health data.

Under the scheme_ Uber will offer discounted rides and meals on Uber Eats for young adults who get the jab. Bolt will offer free ride credit to vaccination centres. Other incentives being discussed could include vouchers or discount codes for people attending pop-up vaccine sites . Sajid Javid_ the health secretary_ called on the young to  go out and take advantage of the discounts when they become available.

Incentives are desperately being sought by ministers amid growing concern over attempts to force the young into being vaccinated. After universities were privately warned early last week that the use of vaccine certificates was an option being examined by the government_ a detailed memo was delivered to the cabinet office warning that institutions risked breaching consumer law by effectively changing the terms of the contract handed to students who had already received an offer of a place in September. Lawyers also warned that legislation would need to be changed to allow universities to compel students to take a vaccine  a vote the government could struggle to win.