by Rose Williams
Hennepin County is giving out $50 Visa gift cards as an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to a press release, the county is offering $50 per dose between July 1 and August 15. Anyone who receives both doses in that time frame at county-sponsored vaccine events is eligible to get $100 in Visa gift cards.
There appear to be six vaccine events scheduled at various locations in the county, at which attendees who receive the vaccine will be awarded a $50 gift card. The gift card is also available for those who visit the Hennepin County Public Health Clinic to get their shot.
By offering these incentives, leaders in the county hope to “raise the overall vaccination rate in our county and the state, while closing the vaccination gap within communities and neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19.”
The county is committed to addressing “vaccine disparities” that exist for certain races and neighborhoods in the county, a press release states.
While 65% of Hennepin County residents have received at least one dose, 19 zip-code areas have a vaccination rate under 60%, and five zip-code areas in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center are under 50%.
“Hennepin County is offering COVID-19 vaccine incentives to help make it a little easier for people to take the shot,” the press release adds.
District 6 Commissioner Chris LaTondresse said that these incentives act as “an opportunity to build on Minnesota’s statewide vaccine incentive strategy in a way that’s specifically tailored to the unique needs and concerns of Hennepin County residents.”
However, one does not need to be a resident of the county to take advantage of the $50 prize, which is open to anyone in the state who receives the vaccine at a Hennepin County vaccine event.
Other vaccine incentives from the state of Minnesota include $25 gift cards, state fair tickets, fishing licenses, state park passes, and Valley Fair tickets, among other options.
– – –
Rose Williams is an assistant editor for Alpha News.
Photo “Vaccination Center” by Minnesota Department of Health.
