Covid-19 Vaccine Incentives Free Food Cash Prizes And Rewards Across America

Oct. 29, 2025, 5:26 p.m.

Tags: vaccine

As the United States worked to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in 2021, businesses, organizations, and government entities implemented various incentive programs to encourage participation. By June 2021, 62.8% of American adults had received at least one dose of the vaccine, with 133.6 million Americans fully vaccinated against the viral disease. The White House established a goal to reach 70% vaccination by July 4, prompting numerous entities to offer rewards ranging from free food and drinks to substantial cash prizes and scholarships.

State and Government Incentive Programs

States across the country developed innovative incentive programs to boost vaccination rates. Ohio's Vax-a-Million campaign became one of the most discussed and successful initiatives, offering vaccinated adults the chance to enter drawings for one of five $1 million awards. For residents between the ages of 12 and 17, the program provided five four-year scholarships to Ohio state schools, including room and board, tuition, and books. An Associated Press analysis determined that vaccinations in Ohio increased by 33 percent after the vaccine lottery was announced.

California launched the Vax for the Win program, featuring the largest vaccine lottery prize pool in the nation at $116.5 million. The state offered 10 prizes of $1.5 million each, along with $50 gift cards for the next 2 million residents to get vaccinated. Governor Gavin Newsom stated, "We're putting aside more resources than any other state in America, and we're making available the largest prizes of any state in America for those that seek to get vaccinated." The program aimed to incentivize approximately 12 million Californians who had not yet received the vaccine as the state prepared to lift all restrictions in June.

Colorado implemented the Colorado Comeback Cash vaccine lottery, with five residents receiving $1 million each and 25 teenagers awarded $50,000 for college. The state held multiple drawings on June 4, 11, 18, 25, and July 7, 2021, selecting one $1 million winner and five student scholarship recipients in each draw. Participants did not need to register separately; simply getting vaccinated provided an entry into the drawings.

At the local level, Polk County, Iowa, announced plans to award five $50,000 prizes and 90 $1,000 prizes during the summer of 2021, with 12-17 year olds eligible for $5,000 scholarships. Philadelphia launched the Philly Vax Sweepstakes, where 36 vaccinated residents could win up to $50,000, with the city distributing a total of $400,000 in prizes through drawings on June 20, July 5, and July 18.

Corporate and Business Rewards

Numerous companies joined the effort to encourage vaccination through various reward programs. CVS Pharmacy offered the chance to win one of over 1,000 prizes, including free vacations, gift cards, or a trip to the Super Bowl, for those who received their vaccine at CVS locations by July 10.

Many employers implemented their own incentive programs to encourage vaccination among their workforce. These initiatives varied widely, with some companies offering paid time off, others providing gift cards or cash bonuses to employees who chose to get vaccinated.

Anheuser-Busch, the major brewer, pledged to "buy Americans 21+ a round of beer" once 70% of U.S. adults were partially vaccinated, demonstrating support for President Biden's goal of reaching that milestone by July 4. This offer highlighted how businesses aligned their promotional efforts with national vaccination targets.

Food and Drink Promotions

Restaurant and food companies developed numerous promotions to encourage vaccination, recognizing that immediate, tangible rewards might motivate some individuals to get vaccinated. Krispy Kreme generated significant attention when it announced that anyone who received the COVID-19 vaccine would receive free donuts. The offer extended beyond a one-time promotion—throughout 2021, individuals could visit any Krispy Kreme location with their vaccination card and receive a free original glazed donut.

Nathan's Famous contributed to the incentive trend by offering free hot dogs at its original Coney Island location in Brooklyn, New York, on the same day that individuals received their vaccine. This localized promotion provided an immediate reward for those getting vaccinated in the New York area.

Ledo Pizza, based in Annapolis, Maryland, offered one free eight-inch cheese pizza to Maryland residents who had received their first dose of the vaccine. The promotion ran through June 30 or until the chain had given out 10,000 pizzas, whichever came first. This demonstrated how regional businesses could implement targeted incentive programs to boost local vaccination rates.

World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés provided $50 gift cards to his restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area, including Jaleo DC, Jaleo Crystal City, Oyamel, Zaytinya, and China Chilcano. The offer extended to anyone who showed proof of vaccination on or after May 8, 2021, making it available to those who had already been vaccinated as well as those planning to receive the shot.

Practical Benefits and Additional Rewards

Beyond food and cash incentives, some businesses offered practical benefits to those who had been vaccinated. Staples, the office supplies chain, recognized that carrying vaccination cards could result in wear and tear. In response, the company offered to laminate vaccination cards for free after individuals received their final dose. This service was available before May 1, 2021, providing a lasting way to protect proof of vaccination.

The variety of incentives extended beyond food, drinks, and practical items to include experiences and other valuable rewards. While specific details about additional experiences weren't provided in the source material, the mention of free flights and amusement park tickets in the AARP article suggests that businesses and organizations offered diverse rewards to appeal to different demographics.

Public Health Perspective on Vaccine Incentives

Health experts weighed in on the effectiveness of incentive programs in encouraging vaccination. Emily Largent, an assistant professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, explained that using diverse incentives—ranging from free food to cash and gift cards—would encourage people with different motivations to get vaccinated. She noted that the offers might be particularly helpful for younger people or those without preexisting conditions who were less concerned about the public health benefits of vaccinations.

"The variety is probably good, just like how everybody wants something different at a smorgasbord," Largent said. "We give people more options and hopefully encourage more people to come along."

However, Largent also acknowledged that incentives alone wouldn't address all reasons for vaccine hesitancy. "There are a lot of reasons why people aren't getting vaccinated, and incentives will not help with all of those reasons," she stated.

The implementation of diverse incentive programs reflected an understanding that different population groups respond to different types of rewards. While some might be motivated by financial incentives like cash prizes or gift cards, others might respond more positively to food rewards or practical benefits.

Conclusion

As the United States continued its vaccination efforts throughout 2021, incentive programs played a significant role in encouraging participation. From state-run lotteries with million-dollar prizes to local restaurant promotions offering free food, these initiatives provided additional motivation for individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The variety of rewards demonstrated a recognition that different populations respond to different incentives, with programs targeting various demographics through age-appropriate prizes and culturally relevant rewards.

While the primary goal of vaccination remained protecting public health, the additional incentives provided tangible benefits to those who participated, potentially accelerating vaccination rates and contributing to the nation's recovery from the pandemic. As vaccination efforts continued, these programs evolved and expanded, reflecting ongoing efforts to make vaccination accessible and appealing to all segments of the population.