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We are now far beyond free donuts. Athletic teams, governors and national retailers are becoming creative in attracting unvaccinated people to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
Two free tickets to a future Atlanta Braves baseball game along with free COVID-19 shots were part of the lineup at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend. The Braves, in collaboration with Emory Healthcare, offered the show to all fans 16 and older.
The Milwaukee Bucks basketball team partnered with the city’s health department to offer COVID-19 vaccines to all eligible fans at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first doses of the Pfizer vaccine were available through a mobile vaccination site in an April 25 game.
The status of incentives in the COVID-19 vaccine
In New Jersey, the governor’s office, the state Department of Health and the Brewer’s Guild of New Jersey developed the “Shot and a Beer” program.
Any New Jersey resident 21 years of age or older who receives the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in May can present the vaccine card at a participating brewery for a free beer.
As of May 6, 35 local breweries across Garden State had decided to dump the idea. It’s a creative idea for breweries with creative names, such as the 13th Children’s Brewery, Angry Erik Brewing, Man Skirt Brewing and the somewhat medical sound, Dr. Brewery’s company. Brewlittle.
West Virginia hit national headlines in April when Gov. Jim Justice announced that the state would give $ 100 savings vouchers to residents ages 16 to 35 who get vaccinated.
A week later, the governor said he intends to offer other vaccination incentives, but that they may be in the form of silver dollar and a $ 100 gift card instead of a savings bond. The governor explained that he faces some challenges with the deployment of the bonds and that he is working with the U.S. Treasury Department to resolve the issue.
Retailers also reward customers
They are not just governments and ball clubs. Target retail corporation announced it will offer $ 5 coupons to customers receiving a COVID-19 vaccine at any of its CVS pharmacy locations across the country.
Retailers also give employees incentives to join the vaccinated world.
CNBC counted a list that includes Instacart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Chobani, Petco, Darden Restaurants, McDonald’s and Dollar General, which offer workers free and effective time to get vaccinated. Kroger will pay employees $ 100 in-store credit plus a one-time $ 100 cash payment and Publix offers employees a $ 125 in-store gift card.
Not to be outdone, a marijuana The Michigan dispensary will give everyone over the age of 21 who has evidence of having been vaccinated a free joint. The program is called “Pot for Shots.”
“We all hope that the COVID vaccine will be the beginning of the end of this pandemic that has affected both our neighbors, our communities and our nation,” according to a statement posted on The Greenhouse website. “If you decide to get the vaccine against COVID (we always support freedom of choice), this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ for helping to end this pandemic and return to normalcy.”
No purchase required.
Damian McNamara is a Miami-based journalist. It covers a wide range of medical specialties, including infectious diseases, gastroenterology and neurology. Follow Damian on Twitter: @MedReporter.
