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Florida promoter selling $1k gig tickets to unvaccinated fans

A concert promoter in Florida is charging unvaccinated fans $1,000 more than their jabbed peers to attend an upcoming gig.

Paul Williams, who runs Leadfoot Productions, is hosting a concert at VFW Post #39 in St Petersburg later this month, with tickets costing just $18 for those that are fully vaccinated.

However, those who cannot show they have been fully vaccinated with both jabs will be charged $999.99.

Williams said the pricing strategy is a response to Florida Governor Ron De Santis barring businesses from requiring patrons to provide COVID-19 vaccination status.

Speaking to ABC News, Williams added: “I wanted it to be a vaccine drive to get the fence-sitters off the fence. I wanted to get the kids that want to go to shows to go out and get their shots.”

Ray Carlisle of Teenage Bottlerocket, one of the bands on the VFW Post #39 line-up, told news channel WFTS: “We’re all vaccinated. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated so we can see you in the pit.”

Around 40 per cent of Florida residents are estimated to have had both vaccine shots, which ranks the state 29th across the country.

Florida, with a population of 21.5 million, has a seven-day average of 1,268 COVID cases at latest count, which is down 59% compared to the prior period. Hospitalisations and deaths are both down 22 per cent.