Covid-19 Vaccine Incentives Free Food Cash Prizes And Perks For Getting Vaccinated

As vaccination efforts across the United States continue, businesses, organizations, and government entities have introduced various incentive programs to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. These incentives range from free food and beverages to cash prizes, lottery tickets, and exclusive experiences. By June 2021, 62.8% of American adults had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 133.6 million Americans fully vaccinated against the viral disease, according to the White House, which aimed to reach a 70% vaccination rate by July 4. To help meet this goal, brands, politicians, corporations, and community groups have implemented numerous giveaways and promotions for those who have received their vaccine.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Numerous food and beverage companies have implemented promotions to encourage vaccination, with many of these offers extending beyond the initial vaccination period.

Krispy Kreme became one of the first national brands to launch a campaign supporting vaccination efforts, offering free doughnuts to those who show proof of being vaccinated. The company reported giving away more than 1.5 million doughnuts through their promotion, which remained available through the remainder of the year. According to Dave Skena, chief marketing officer at Krispy Kreme, "We were the first national brand to launch a campaign to show support for Americans choosing to get vaccinated, and we were hopeful that others would join us. So, it's very gratifying to see so many companies, organizations, communities and even state governments encouraging and incentivizing people to protect themselves and others by getting vaccinated."

Other food chains have also implemented vaccination-specific promotions:

• Panera offered all vaccinated customers one free bagel per day from July 2-4. The offer was available only for customers ordering in person at their local bakery-cafe, with no other purchase required.
• Chipotle provided a buy-one-get-one-free entree offer for vaccinated customers after 3 p.m. on July 6. The chain had previously given away 250,000 free burritos to healthcare workers as a pandemic thank-you.
• Various local establishments have offered their own incentives, such as Evil Genius Beer Company in Philadelphia, which provided a free 16-ounce brew to those receiving their COVID-19 vaccine in May.

Retail and Pharmacy Incentives

Retail pharmacies and stores have implemented their own incentive programs to encourage vaccination, with some offering direct rewards and others providing entry into sweepstakes.

Walgreens offered $25 in Walgreens Cash or a $25 Walgreens gift card to customers who got vaccinated at their stores. The offer was available through July 3, and customers could make an appointment online to receive their vaccine. Those without a myWalgreens account received the gift card option instead.

CVS Health announced a sweepstakes giveaway for people who got vaccinated at its stores or showed proof of vaccination. The sweepstakes offered various prizes, including a trip to the Super Bowl, $5,000 to fund a family reunion, cruises, or cash. This initiative was part of a growing trend of incentives offered by businesses throughout the nation to encourage Americans to get vaccinated, which is considered vital to ending the pandemic.

Lottery and Cash Prizes

Several states and organizations have implemented lottery programs and cash prizes as incentives for vaccination.

New York offered a Mega Multiplier scratch-off lottery ticket worth $20 to anyone who received a shot at one of the state's 10 mass-vaccination sites. The ticket came with a 1 in 9 chance of winning cash, with prizes beginning at $20 and a top prize of $5 million. Governor Andrew Cuomo emphasized that "Everybody wins" with this incentive, noting that recipients "get the vaccine" and have a chance at the lottery.

Maryland held $40,000 lottery drawings specifically for people who had been vaccinated. These drawings were part of the state's efforts to increase vaccination rates, which stood at 43% of residents fully vaccinated and 51% with at least one shot as of May 2021.

Instacart launched a "Get Vaxxed for Snacks" sweepstakes, offering the chance for free food delivery to participants' homes. While specific details about the sweepstakes structure were not provided, the promotion aimed to leverage the convenience of grocery delivery as an incentive for vaccination.

Alcohol-Related Incentives

Numerous establishments have offered free or discounted alcoholic beverages as vaccination incentives.

Several states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, offered free beer or nonalcoholic beverages to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. These programs targeted adults who could legally consume alcohol and provided an additional incentive beyond the health benefits of vaccination.

In Vancouver, Washington, the bar Vault 31 offered free Jell-O shots to customers who showed proof of vaccination. According to the establishment, "We have had many customers take advantage of the 'Pot for Shot' promotion and express their thankfulness for positively recognizing the importance of the COVID vaccine program." The bar noted that those who came for the Jell-O shots typically stayed to order food and drinks, benefiting both customers and the business.

Regional and Local Offers

In addition to national programs, many local businesses and municipalities have implemented their own vaccination incentives.

Philadelphia entered Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, making all city residents eligible for vaccination. For the more than 600,000 Philadelphians who had already been fully vaccinated, this meant access to a "slew of free perks and giveaways" from local businesses. The city compiled a list of places offering free or discounted goodies for those who showed their vaccination cards.

Portland, Oregon had its own unique incentives, though specific details were limited in the source material. The region featured various local promotions aimed at increasing vaccination rates among residents.

Effectiveness of Vaccine Incentives

Research suggests that vaccine incentives may be more effective among certain population groups. While comprehensive data on the overall effectiveness of these programs was not provided in the source material, the widespread implementation across various sectors indicates that organizations view these incentives as valuable tools in increasing vaccination rates.

Companies like Krispy Kreme reported significant participation in their incentive programs, suggesting that free food and other tangible rewards can motivate some individuals to get vaccinated. Similarly, states like New York and Maryland invested substantial resources into lottery programs, indicating that larger prizes may be effective for those who might otherwise be hesitant.

How to Access These Offers

Access to vaccine incentives typically requires proof of vaccination, which is usually demonstrated through showing a vaccination card or digital record. The specific process for claiming these incentives varies by offer:

• For retail promotions like free food or drinks, customers generally need to present their vaccination card at the time of purchase or redemption.
• For sweepstakes and lottery entries, participants may need to register with proof of vaccination or automatically be entered when receiving a vaccine at participating locations.
• For cash rewards like those offered by Walgreens, the incentive is typically provided at the time of vaccination or through a digital account.

Most offers have specific timeframes and participation requirements, so individuals should check with the specific business or organization for details on eligibility and redemption processes.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccine incentives have become widespread across the United States, with businesses, organizations, and government entities offering a diverse range of rewards to encourage vaccination. These incentives include free food and beverages, retail discounts, cash prizes, lottery tickets, and alcohol-related perks. While the primary motivation for vaccination should be the health benefits of protection against the virus, these additional rewards have provided extra encouragement for many individuals. As vaccination efforts continue, these incentive programs may evolve, but their presence during the initial rollout phase demonstrates the creative approaches being taken to increase vaccination rates and move closer to ending the pandemic.

Sources

1. Got Your COVID-19 Vaccine? These Are the Freebies and Perks Around Philly You Should Know About
2. How to Get Promotions, Prizes and Freebies with your COVID-19 Vaccine
3. Scratch-offs, beer and more: Here's the free stuff you can get with your NY COVID vaccine
4. CVS to offer sweepstakes for COVID vaccine recipients as freebies become increasingly popular incentive
5. Vaccine Freebies and Incentives in Portland: Pot, Beer, and More
6. Do vaccine incentives work? Krispy Kreme says freebies have helped
7. COVID Vaccine Freebies: Where to Get Free Food and More