What freebies can you get for getting a covid-19 vaccine in New York City?
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that vaccinated residents will be entered into a million-dollar lottery, while many bars and restaurants are offering free food and drink.
President Biden set his administration the target of getting at least one vaccine dose to 70% of the population by 4 July, which would allow him to loosen the restrictions in time for Independence Day gatherings.
The latest data from the CDC finds that 38.1% of Americans are fully vaccinated, while 60.5% have received at least one dose. In New York 42.9% of the population have received both doses, suggesting that the state’s many incentives are beginning to have an effect.
Here’s some of the freebies on offer for getting a covid-19 vaccine in New York…
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New York follows Ohio’s vaccine lottery incentive
On Thursday New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the introduction of the state’s new ‘Vax & Scratch’ incentive, which gives vaccine recipients the chance to win up to $5 million in the Mega Multiplier Lottery.
Thirteen lucky winners will get a monetary prize worth between $20 and $5 million, which Cuomo hopes will encourage non-vaccinated residents to get the life-saving shot. The scheme will see everyone who gets a vaccine given a scratch-card lottery ticket with a one-in-nine chance of winning a cash prize.
“Everybody wins," Cuomo said upon announcing the ‘Vax & Scratch’ incentive in Buffalo. "You have a 1 in 9 chance of winning the lottery, and you get the vaccine.”
Earlier this month Ohio launched their own lottery initiative, which will see five weekly draws with a top prize of $1 million for vaccinated residents aged 18 and older. After weeks of declining uptake of vaccines in the state, covid-19 shots were up by 6% for the 30- to 74-year-olds after the lottery was announced.
What other incentives are offered for vaccinations in New York?
The chance of becoming a millionaire is obviously the most enticing of the vaccine rewards, but there are plenty of other incentives offered by businesses across New York State. You can get free food at the likes of Krispy Kreme (free glazed doughnut); White Castle (free dessert-on-stick); Erie County (free beer) and Shake Shack (free side of fries) just by showing your vaccination card.
If you’re a sports lover there are plenty of free tickets on offer, but it depends where you get the vaccine. You will get a free ticket for the New York Yankees or the New York Mets if you get vaccinated on game day at a clinic at the stadium. The same is true of the Buffalo Bisons who are offering a voucher for one free ticket if you attend their 1 June vaccination clinic.
The Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Blue Jays are offering the chance to be entered into a raffle to win game tickets for anyone who receives a vaccine at the stadium. A number of other major attractions are set to announce vaccination incentives in the near future with free tickets provided to vaccine recipients.
New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has confirmed that free tickets will be available for the following attractions: NYC Aquarium; Brooklyn Botanical Garden; Bronx Zoo; Lincoln Center; Brooklyn Cyclones; NYC Ferry and Public Theater.