Chicago Covid Vaccine Incentives Free Food Entertainment And Deals For Vaccinated Residents

Chicago residents who have received COVID-19 vaccinations have access to numerous incentives and freebies across the city and surrounding areas. As vaccination rates declined in Illinois from averaging 100,000 shots per day earlier in the year to a seven-day rolling average of 36,130 shots as of a recent Saturday, businesses and organizations have increasingly offered rewards to encourage immunization. These incentives range from free food and drinks to entertainment opportunities, financial rewards, and essential services, all aimed at helping the community return to normal activities.

City-Sponsored Vaccine Incentives

Chicago city leaders have implemented several programs to encourage residents to get vaccinated. In the Englewood neighborhood, residents were offered free amusement park tickets and haircuts in exchange for receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. One participant, Ruby Gomez, received a free haircut along with five tickets to Six Flags Great America after getting vaccinated at the It's Official Barbershop on West 63rd Street.

The barbershop's barber, Travis Berry, explained the rationale behind these incentives: "Sometimes you have to give something away for someone to get something." He expressed optimism about the reopening of society, noting, "The world is opening back up, it's getting nice. It's going to be holidays and just being around your family, getting back to normal is important."

Chicago officials have also announced plans to distribute free tickets to music events throughout the summer to vaccinated residents. These tickets will be distributed through Eventbrite. Additionally, the city has mentioned the possibility of a vaccine pass arriving in May, which could offer special discounts on concert tickets, haircuts, and salon treatments.

Retail and Grocery Store Promotions

Several major retailers have launched campaigns to reward vaccinated customers. Kroger Health, which owns Mariano's and Food 4 Less in the Chicago area, has initiated "The Community Immunity Giveaway" campaign. This program includes weekly drawings where five shoppers who have received the COVID-19 vaccine can win $1 million each. The company will also award free groceries for a year to another 50 vaccinated individuals.

Kroger's chairman and CEO, Rodney McMullen, explained the motivation behind the campaign: "The faster we reach community immunity, the sooner we can all get back to enjoying backyard barbecues, live music and gathering for special occasions."

CVS Health has also introduced a vaccination incentive program starting June 1. Customers who receive a coronavirus vaccination through CVS may enter the #OneStepCloser sweepstakes, which offers prizes including free cruises, tropical vacations, a VIP trip to Super Bowl LVI, and gift cards.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Numerous food establishments across Chicago and the surrounding area have created special offers for vaccinated individuals:

Krispy Kreme has become one of the most well-known businesses offering vaccine incentives. The popular donut shop provides a free glazed donut daily through the end of 2021 to any guest who shows a valid COVID-19 vaccination card. To qualify, individuals must have received at least one shot of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. According to Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer, the offer is valid at all 369 Krispy Kreme shops located in 41 states and is available "anytime, any day, every day for the rest of the year." No purchase is necessary, though there is a limit of one "Original Glazed" doughnut per person per day.

Budweiser has launched a promotion offering $5 debit cards to 10,000 people for a free beer with proof of vaccination. This offer is valid until May 16. To sign up, individuals need to provide a picture of either an "I Got Vaccinated" sticker, a picture of the Band-Aid on their arm, or a selfie taken at the vaccination site to ABeerOnBud.com.

White Castle is offering free desserts-on-a-stick through May 31 to customers who can provide proof of vaccination.

In Chicago specifically, the Village Tap bar has been handing out $10 gift cards to the first thousand people who can show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, various restaurants in Connecticut are offering a free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink to anyone who shows they have received one or both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine between May 19 and 31.

Transportation Benefits

Rideshare services Uber and Lyft have stepped up to help residents access vaccination sites by offering free or discounted transportation to and from COVID-19 vaccination locations. This assistance addresses potential barriers to vaccination, including transportation challenges, particularly for individuals who may not have reliable personal vehicles or who face mobility difficulties.

While these transportation incentives make it easier for people to get vaccinated, health officials remind residents that the vaccine is not perfect protection. They recommend maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks when using public transit or visiting indoor establishments, even after vaccination.

Entertainment and Event Opportunities

Vaccinated individuals have access to various entertainment options and events. In addition to the free tickets to Chicago music events offered by the city, vaccinated fans can receive free tickets to future games if they get the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine at Yankees or Mets games in New York.

The NFL has announced that fifty vaccinated fans will have the opportunity to win free tickets to Super Bowl LVI in February 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Fans can earn points on the Global Citizen website by sharing why they are getting vaccinated and then use those points to enter the giveaway for the Super Bowl tickets or tickets to other events, including Live Nation concerts and festivals, NASCAR Daytona 500, and the MLB, MLS, NBA, WNBA and NHL all-star games.

For those interested in digital rewards, e-commerce company Drop is offering $50 in credit to people who post a vaccine selfie with #DropCovid and @JoinDrop tag on Instagram.

Additional Vaccine Incentives Across Categories

Beyond the categories already mentioned, some businesses have created unique incentives. For example, a Chicago-based bar, the Village Tap, has been distributing $10 gift cards to the first thousand people who can show proof of vaccination. Similarly, the Rumbleseat Bar & Grille in Chicopee, Massachusetts, offers a 20% discount every Monday on food orders to those who can prove they got vaccinated.

In the cannabis industry, some dispensaries have begun offering free edibles to individuals who show their vaccination cards. For example, The Mint Dispensary in Phoenix, Arizona, provides free edibles to vaccinated customers, though this offer is limited to individuals who are at least 21 years old.

These diverse incentives demonstrate how various industries are encouraging vaccination while simultaneously trying to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. As one source noted, "All of these offers make sense as many businesses are hungry for customers to return."

Conclusion

Chicago residents who have received COVID-19 vaccinations have access to a wide range of incentives and freebies across multiple categories. These rewards, offered by both public entities and private businesses, serve dual purposes: encouraging vaccination rates and helping local businesses recover from the pandemic's economic effects.

From city-sponsored initiatives like free amusement park tickets and music event passes to retail promotions offering cash prizes and groceries, the incentives are diverse and substantial. Food and beverage establishments have been particularly active, with Krispy Kreme's daily free donuts becoming one of the most well-known vaccine rewards.

Transportation benefits from companies like Uber and Lyft help remove barriers to vaccination, while entertainment opportunities from sports teams to music venues provide vaccinated individuals with experiences they might otherwise have missed.

As vaccination efforts continue, these incentives may evolve, but their core purpose remains constant: to encourage immunization and help society return to normal activities. For Chicago residents, these offers represent not just immediate rewards but also contribute to the broader community health goal of achieving widespread immunity.

Sources

1. Chicago Offering Incentives to Get More Residents Vaccinated for COVID-19
2. CVS, Mariano's Launch Vaccine Incentive Campaigns
3. Where to Score Vaccine Deals in the Chicago Area
4. What Free Stuff Can You Get for Your COVID Vaccine
5. Free Stuff: COVID Vaccine Cards Can Get You Things Like Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
6. Getting COVID Vaccine? Here's Some Free Stuff You Can Get