The provided source material documents a series of promotional offers and freebies available to individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccination in the United States during 2021. These incentives, offered by various companies, states, and local governments, aimed to encourage vaccination uptake. The offers range from food and beverage items to event tickets, cash rewards, and transportation benefits. It is important to note that all documented offers and programmes are specific to the United States and have associated deadlines and eligibility criteria. The information is based on reports from 2021, and current availability of these offers cannot be confirmed from the source data.
Food and Beverage Incentives
Multiple food and beverage brands created promotions for vaccinated individuals. These offers typically required in-person redemption and proof of vaccination.
Krispy Kreme offered a free original glazed doughnut to anyone who presented a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. This promotion was available to individuals who had received at least one shot of a recognised vaccine and ran through the end of 2021. Eligible individuals could claim one doughnut per day.
Budweiser provided a free beer to individuals over the age of 21 who could show proof of vaccination. To redeem this offer, participants were required to first register at a specific website. This promotion was scheduled to run until May 16, 2021, and was available nationwide, with participating breweries in New Jersey.
Shake Shack offered a free burger to anyone who received their vaccine on an NYC mobile vaccine bus, subject to voucher availability. In a separate promotion in New York City, Shake Shack, in partnership with the mayor's office, offered a free order of crinkle-cut fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich. This offer required the presentation of a vaccination card and was valid until June 12, 2021.
Panera announced a promotion for vaccinated customers, offering one free bagel per day from July 2-4, 2021. No other purchase was required, but the offer was only valid for in-person orders at bakery-cafes.
Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one-free entree for vaccinated customers who brought a friend after 3 p.m. on July 6, 2021.
Chobani was reported to be giving away free yogurt at certain vaccination sites.
Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio, offered ten-cent beers to the first 2,021 vaccinated visitors.
Oak & Reel, a restaurant in Detroit, offered a 50% discount on meals for vaccinated patrons. The Rumbleseat Bar & Grille in Chicopee, Massachusetts, offered a 20% discount on all food orders on Mondays for vaccinated customers.
Retail, Cash, and Financial Incentives
Several programmes offered direct financial incentives or retail rewards.
Kroger operated a vaccine lottery for individuals who received their COVID-19 vaccine at a Kroger or family of stores. Participants could register for a chance to win one of five $1 million drawings.
Walgreens offered a $25 Walgreens Cash reward for getting vaccinated in-store. For individuals without a myWalgreens account, a $25 Walgreens gift card was provided instead. This offer was valid through July 3, 2021.
West Virginia announced a programme for residents aged 16 to 35, offering a $100 savings bond in exchange for getting vaccinated.
Drop, a shopping rewards service, offered $20 in cash rewards to people who posted a vaccine selfie and tagged @joindrop on social media. The reward could be used for services like Amazon, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.
Event and Experience Incentives
Incentives also included tickets to sporting events and other experiences.
The NFL announced a giveaway for 50 tickets to the 2022 Super Bowl for vaccinated fans. It also offered a 25% discount at NFLShop.com for receiving a vaccine.
NASCAR was giving away Daytona 500 tickets to vaccinated individuals.
Major League Soccer (MLS) offered vaccinated fans a 30% discount on merchandise and the chance to win tickets to the 2021 MLS All-Star Game.
In New York, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a promotion that would exchange a COVID-19 vaccine for free tickets to Mets Games and Yankees Games in spring 2021. Specific dates were provided for ticket redemption: Mets tickets between May 24 and June 17, and Yankees tickets from May 7 to June 6.
New York State also offered a raffle for vaccinated teenagers, with 10 winners chosen each week for five weeks to win a full, four-year scholarship to a SUNY school.
Transportation and Utility Incentives
Transportation benefits were a key part of several incentive programmes.
Uber and Lyft, in partnership with the White House, offered free rides to vaccination sites across the US. This feature launched in the next two weeks and ran until July 4, 2021, aiming to help people get to their vaccine appointments.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York offered a free 7-day Unlimited MetroCard or two one-way Commuter Rail tickets to people who visited pop-up vaccination sites at eight stations in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. A separate report indicated that newly vaccinated individuals in New York could also receive a free 7-day MetroCard or two one-way tickets at Department of Health pop-up sites through the weekend of May 15-16.
Other Incentives
Tokens for Poke’ns was a campaign by an arcade bar chain called Up-Down, located across five Midwestern US states (Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Oklahoma). The chain offered $5 in free tokens to anyone who could show proof of being fully vaccinated.
The Mint Dispensary in Phoenix, Arizona, offered free edibles to vaccinated customers. The Greenhouse of Walled Lake, a marijuana dispensary in Michigan, offered a free pre-rolled joint to vaccinated customers until the end of the month. The state of Washington announced its “Joints for Jabs” promotion, where adults could claim a free marijuana joint when receiving their first or second vaccine dose at an active clinic. This promotion began on June 7 and ran until July 12, 2021. All these offers required participants to be over 21.
Conclusion
The provided source material documents a diverse array of incentives offered in the United States to encourage COVID-19 vaccination during 2021. These included food and beverage freebies from major chains like Krispy Kreme, Shake Shack, and Chipotle; financial rewards and lottery entries from companies like Kroger and Walgreens; event and sports tickets from leagues like the NFL and MLB; and practical benefits such as free rides from Uber and Lyft and public transport passes from the MTA. Each offer had specific eligibility rules, redemption procedures, and expiration dates. The information is historical and specific to the US context.