In an attempt to cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, some online users are claiming pediatricians are paid a bonus by Blue Cross Blue Shield based on the percentage of patients they vaccinate.
“Blue Cross Blue Shield pays your doctor a $40,000 bonus for fully vaccinating 100 patients under the age of 2,” reads a Dec. 12, 2021, Instagram post that was shared by actress Cherie Johnson and accumulated more than 600 likes. “If your doctor manages to fully vaccinate 200 patients, that bonus jumps to $80,000.”
The post claims pediatricians lose the entire bonus unless at least 63% of patients are fully vaccinated, including the flu vaccine. It asserts, “This is why your doctor gets aggressive.”
But Blue Cross Blue Shield doesn’t provide incentives solely based on the number of patients vaccinated, as the post suggests. Incentive programs vary by state and require doctors to meet goals related to a number of different practices and services.