HAMILTON COUNTY — Health officials are giving away $100 Visa gift cards to Hamilton County residents who get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"Based on the success of these programs in some other areas of the State, we are using every tool available to us to increase vaccine rates," said a health department spokesperson in an email to Spectrum News 1.
Residents can get a gift card at the county's disease prevention clinic at 184 E. McMillan St. or at any of the mobile clinics in the area. Hamilton County received $158 million from the American Rescue Plan, which will help fund the program, according to officials.
The incentive is based off of the vaccine incentive programs offered in other counties. In Columbus, officials created the "vax for cash" program which launched last month. Officials there gave out $100 to residents who got their first dose their first dose at the health department and its 10 clinics. The rewards will be available through Sept. 10 at Columbus Public Health’s walk-in clinic Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and at seven neighborhood satellite locations from noon-7p.m. Appointments are not required for vaccination.
Summit County Public Health will also be offering $100 gift cards to residents this Friday. From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Visa or Mastercard gift cards will be distributed while supplies last at their drive-thru clinic on 1867 W. Market St.
A little more than 49% of Hamilton County's population is completely vaccinated, according to state data. Around 53% of residents have received the first dose.
The incentive is a part of a larger push from state and federal officials to get people vaccinated as the delta variant continues to spread, increasing cases and hospitalizations nationwide.
In late July, President Joe Biden backed $100 vaccine incentives, calling on states and local governments to make the cash amount available to their residents getting vaccinated.
Statewide, more than 51% of the population received the first dose and 47% of residents are completely vaccinated.