Covid-19 Vaccine Incentives Complete Guide To Freebies And Rewards Across America

As vaccination efforts against COVID-19 expanded across the United States, businesses, governments, and organizations implemented various incentive programs to encourage participation. These initiatives ranged from free food and beverages to cash prizes, event tickets, and transportation benefits. This comprehensive guide examines the diverse array of vaccine incentives available across different sectors and regions, providing consumers with accurate information about how to access these rewards.

Food and Beverage Incentives

Numerous food and beverage companies launched promotions to reward individuals who received COVID-19 vaccinations. These offers varied in duration, requirements, and geographic availability.

Krispy Kreme implemented one of the most well-known incentives, offering anyone with proof of COVID vaccination a free doughnut each day for the remainder of the year. The doughnut chain received some backlash from healthcare professionals who noted the potential health implications of daily sugary treats, but the promotion continued as part of broader efforts to increase vaccination rates.

Shake Shack launched a location-specific promotion for New York City residents. Through June 12, individuals who showed their CDC-issued vaccine cards at any of the 25 Shake Shack locations in NYC received a free side of Crinkle Cut Fries with the purchase of any burger or chicken sandwich. Additionally, those who received their vaccine at one of the city's mobile vaccine clinics earned a voucher for a free ShackBurger, though this offer was subject to availability.

Unilever partnered with vaccination sites in several major cities to distribute free products on May 14 only. The company offered free popsicles and Klondike shakes at select vaccination sites in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Phoenix. This one-day promotion provided immediate refreshment to newly vaccinated individuals.

Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio, created a beer-focused incentive, offering 10-cent beers to the first 2,021 adults who brought their completed vaccine cards to the establishment. This promotion combined vaccination encouragement with the brewery's primary product.

Several state and local governments also implemented food and beverage incentives. Connecticut announced a promotion to provide free beers at participating bars and breweries to vaccinated residents between May 19 and May 31. Similarly, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy offered a free beer promotion to residents who received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot during May.

Cannabis-Related Offers

Some cannabis retailers and dispensaries created unique incentives for vaccination, though these offers were limited to adults over 21 and subject to state regulations.

The Mint Dispensary in Arizona offered a free cannabis edible to anyone who received one or both COVID-19 vaccine doses during March. Similarly, the Greenhouse of Walled Lake, a marijuana dispensary in Michigan, provided anyone over 21 with proof of vaccination a free pre-rolled joint. These promotions were conducted in partnership with cannabis companies, with the Greenhouse promotion specifically working with UBaked Cannabis Co., which supplied the pre-rolled products.

These cannabis incentives reflected the industry's efforts to participate in public health initiatives while targeting adult demographics who might respond to such rewards.

Transportation and Retail Benefits

Ride-sharing services and retail companies implemented practical incentives to remove barriers to vaccination and support vaccine card preservation.

Uber and Lyft both launched initiatives to provide free transportation to vaccination sites. Uber pledged free rides on appointment day for those getting vaccinated at Walgreens locations, as part of a larger effort to provide up to 10 million free or reduced-rate rides for individuals needing transportation to and from vaccine appointments. Lyft partnered with CVS, the YMCA, and other organizations to coordinate free rides to vaccination appointments through community nonprofits.

Office Depot and OfficeMax addressed the practical need for vaccine card preservation by offering free lamination services through July 25. The office supply chains recognized the potential ongoing need for vaccination documentation and provided this service to help maintain the integrity of vaccine cards.

John Hancock, a life insurance provider, offered free reward points to policyholders who were part of its Vitality rewards program before receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. This incentive connected vaccination participation with existing wellness and rewards programs.

Government-Run Lotteries and Programs

State and local governments implemented some of the most substantial vaccine incentives through lotteries and direct rewards, with several states reporting measurable increases in vaccination rates following these announcements.

Ohio's Vax-a-Million campaign represented one of the most comprehensive government incentive programs. The initiative allowed vaccinated adults to enter drawings for one of five $1 million awards, while residents between 12 and 17 years old could enter for one of five four-year scholarships to Ohio state schools, including room and board, tuition, and books. An Associated Press analysis determined that vaccinations in the state increased by 33 percent after the vaccine lottery was announced.

Kroger followed a similar approach with its own vaccine lottery, offering people who received COVID-19 vaccines at Kroger or its family of stores the opportunity to register for a chance to win one of five $1 million drawings.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced that any state resident between 16 and 35 would receive a state savings bond upon vaccination. Memphis, Tennessee, city leaders began a sweepstakes for a free car to be awarded to any vaccinated resident.

New York implemented multiple incentive programs. Governor Andrew Cuomo launched promotions providing free tickets to Mets games from May 24 through June 17 and to Yankee games from May 7 through June 6 for newly vaccinated individuals. The state also offered free weekly subway passes to newly vaccinated residents.

The federal government, through President Biden's initiative to achieve 70% partial vaccination by July 4, partnered with businesses and organizations to provide additional incentives including childcare, gift cards, and chances at free flights.

Entertainment and Event Tickets

Sports leagues, teams, and entertainment venues created exclusive opportunities for vaccinated fans, combining public health messaging with fan engagement.

The National Football League (NFL) announced a giveaway of fifty Super Bowl tickets for vaccinated fans, along with offering a 25% discount at NFLShop.com for individuals who received their COVID-19 vaccine. NASCAR responded by giving away Daytona 500 tickets to vaccinated individuals. Major League Soccer (MLS) offered vaccinated fans a 30% discount on merchandise and the chance to attend the 2021 MLS All-Star Game.

Additional baseball teams reportedly offered ticket deals for vaccinated fans, though specific details were not included in the provided source materials.

Employer and Workplace Incentives

Major corporations implemented various programs to encourage employee vaccination, ranging from direct financial incentives to time off benefits.

Supermarket chain Kroger reportedly offered $100 to each of its more than 225,000 employees who got vaccinated. Other major employers, including Tyson Foods and McDonald's, offered workers up to four hours of paid time off for vaccination, though the specific policies varied by company.

These workplace incentives recognized the important role employers could play in increasing vaccination rates among their workforce and contributing to broader public health goals.

Effectiveness and Considerations

The variety of vaccine incentives reflected different approaches to addressing vaccination hesitancy. While some public health experts expressed concerns about certain incentives—particularly those involving unhealthy food products—others noted that incentives could make a meaningful impact on vaccination numbers when combined with targeted messaging.

A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that nearly one in four Americans remained disinclined to get vaccinated, suggesting that incentives might be particularly effective for this segment of the population. The success of Ohio's lottery program, which demonstrated a 33% increase in vaccinations following its announcement, provided evidence that well-structured incentives could influence behavior.

However, experts emphasized that incentives alone might not be sufficient to achieve widespread vaccination. As one researcher noted, "We're still going to need other interventions" to address vaccination challenges comprehensively.

Conclusion

COVID-19 vaccine incentives represented a diverse and creative response to the challenge of increasing vaccination rates across the United States. From food and beverage rewards to substantial cash prizes and exclusive event opportunities, these programs addressed various motivations and barriers to vaccination. While the effectiveness of individual incentives varied, the collective impact contributed to increased vaccination rates in many areas. As vaccination efforts continued, businesses, governments, and organizations adapted their incentive programs to target remaining unvaccinated populations and address specific barriers to participation.

Sources

1. Today - 7 Deals and Food Freebies You Can Score with COVID-19 Vaccine
2. CNBC - Free with COVID vaccine: Krispy Kreme, marijuana, beer and more
3. CBS News - COVID vaccine freebies: Donuts, cannabis, laminate cards and more
4. AARP - Vaccine Incentives
5. Cheapism - COVID Vaccine Freebies
6. ABC News - Vaccine Incentives: Effective, States Hope