AKRON, Ohio — If you're an Ohio resident who hasn't gotten vaccinated yet, now is your chance to protect yourself and make some money.
Starting Friday, Summit County Public Health will offer a $100 Visa or Mastercard gift card to anyone ages 12 and up who hasn't received an initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The event will be held on Aug. 27 at 1867 W. Market Street, Akron, and goes from 1 to 7 p.m. SCPH will offer all three COVID-19 vaccines at the event. Gift cards will be offered while supplies last.
"This will be a one-time incentive for first doses only while supplies last, and we will be verifying first dose status in the State of Ohio’s vaccination registry," SCPH said.
Summit County Public Health Commissioner Donna Skoda said currently about 57% of county residents 12 years and older have received at least their first shot, and she's hoping the incentive program will lift those numbers in the coming weeks.
"The criteria is this has to be your first vaccine, and obliviously 12 years of age and older would only be eligible for Pfizer, but we have all three vaccines and we're willing to administer any of them," Skoda said. "I'm hoping that between the full approval of the Pfizer and the $100 incentive, more people will get the shot. $100 comes in handy at this time of the year, it comes in handy for school supplies or anything ales you might need."
"We'll try anything right now to get more people vaccinated. We are literally at that point where we need to have 75% of the population vaccinated. Regardless of who you are, it's time for all of us to pull together, get folks vaccinated, wear a mask and protect each other," Skoda said.
The $100 vaccine incentive program will also be offered at three pop-up clinics in Summit County through the end of August. Locations and times can be found on the Summit County Public Health website.
Anyone with questions about the program or vaccines can call the COVID-19 Call Line at 330-926-5795. The line is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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