Starting Friday, Athens residents and others can receive up to $200 for getting vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Clarke County Health Department or community events sponsored by the Northeast Health District.
The Athens-Clarke County Commission approved $250,000 for the program last month. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in ACC is eligible for $100 for the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the first of two Pfizer or Moderna shots, as well as another $100 for their second Pfizer or Moderna shot. The money comes in the form of gift cards for Kroger, Walmart, Dollar General or local downtown businesses, while supplies last.
Only 41% of Clarke County residents are fully vaccinated, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, and COVID-19 cases are approaching levels not seen since last winter’s spike, with almost 300 COVID patients in local hospitals and few beds available.
Gov. Brian Kemp declared Sept. 3 a holiday for state employees to promote vaccination, and gift cards will be distributed at two vaccine drives that day. One is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Athens Housing Authority headquarters on South Rocksprings Street, and the other is from 4-7 p.m. on College Square.
For more information, visit publichealthathens.com/covidvaccine.
In addition, the University of Georgia is offering a new incentive. Students, faculty and staff who get vaccinated or have been vaccinated can enter to win one of 100 $1,000 prizes, with the first of two drawings scheduled for Sept. 15.
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