Select Dayton COVID-19 vaccine sites offer gift cards for first dose

The Ohio Department of Health granted Montgomery County 1,000 gift cards to be used as an incentive for the COVID-19 shot. Photo of the city of Dayton skyline.

Zoë Hill | News Editor

Gift cards will be given to people who get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at some clinics as of Tuesday, according to Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County (PHDMC). 

Select locations across the county will hand out $100 gift cards while supplies last. The Ohio Department of Health granted PHDMC 1,000 gift cards to be used as an incentive for the shot.

“Vaccination is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from severe illness, hospitalization or death from COVID-19,” said Montgomery County Health Commissioner Jeff Cooper. “The incentive is being offered to help motivate the unvaccinated to receive the vaccine as quickly as possible to reduce the recent surge of severe illness and hospitalization.”

Just over half (50.49%) of Montgomery County residents have received at least the first dose of the vaccine, according to PHDMC. The five vaccination sites passing out the cards were chosen based on areas in the community with historically low vaccination rates throughout the pandemic.

IDs are required in order for the health officals to identify which dose a person is receiving. 

Beginning September 14, the following locations will hand out gift cards to individuals who are getting their first dose:

• Tuesdays, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Dayton Metro Library – Huber Heights 
• Wednesdays, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Dayton Convention Center
• Thursdays, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds
• Fridays, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Northwest Recreation Center
• Saturdays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at SugarCreek Packing

Ohio Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said in a Thursday press conference that the vaccine incentive programs across the state are working. 

​​”Our local health departments are best positioned to work with their communities, and offer some incentives for vaccination for some of the people who may be on the fence, and therefore, we have worked in advancing dollars that ultimately have come to us from the federal government for the purpose of supporting a response to COVID-19,” Vanderhoff said.

“Community after community telling us they’re seeing a definite uptick in vaccine delivery as a result of these incentive programs,” he added. 

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