New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine incentives, including a $100 prepaid debit card, are now available to children aged 5 to 11, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.
“Good news! Kids are eligible for the $100 vaccine incentive. So we really want kids to take advantage, families take advantage of that,” de Blasio said at a press conference, which came two days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially recommended Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds.
“Everyone could use a little more money around the holidays. But most importantly, we want our kids and our families to be safe,” he said.
The $100 incentive is being offered to anyone who gets the first dose of their vaccine at any city-run vaccination site. It will also be available at certain healthcare providers and at public school sites, which De Blasio said earlier would start administering shots next week.
Some alternatives to the $100 include tickets to New York City Football Club or Brooklyn Cyclones games, tickets to the Statue of Liberty, and a free ride on the Cyclone at Luna Park in Coney Island, according to the City Hall. The American Museum of Natural History, which is serving as a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site, also offers an admission voucher for up to a group of four visitors.
New York City expects to receive this week a batch of more than 330,000 child-size vaccine doses, city Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said at the press conference. The doses are either already in the city or will arrive in the coming days.
“The health department has been working with about 1,500 pediatricians and family doctors to prepare for this phase of our historic vaccination campaign,” Chokshi said. “City-wide we expect to receive our full initial order: that’s over 330,000 doses over the next few days.”
Similar incentives are being offered in other populated cities, including Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas.
In Chicago, the city’s health department offers a $100 visa gift card for those who receive their first vaccine doses through the “Protect Chicago At Home” event, including children aged 5 to 11. Chicago Public Schools also said that it will cancel school on Nov. 12 for a “Vaccination Awareness Day,” in an effort to make it easier for students to get the vaccine.
In San Antonio, Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced that the city will offer Pfizer’s pediatric vaccines starting Nov. 10, and that parents who bring their children for vaccination will receive a $100 gift card that can be used in H-E-B grocery stores.
