The State of Wisconsin recently extended its $100 COVID-19 vaccination incentive to residents who receive their first dose of the vaccine between Aug. 20 and Sept. 19.
With that, a local organization is also continuing its additional $20 cash incentive to those who attend a pop-up clinic next week.
This clinic will be held from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at Grace Lutheran Church, 2006 60th St. It is being conducted in a partnership between Kenosha County Public Health and the Grace Welcome Center.
Using donations provided to the Grace Welcome Center, the organization is offering $20 in cash to the first 25 people who get their first vaccination dose at the clinic.
Both the local and state incentives are available to anyone ages 12 and older, although those under 18 need parental permission to be vaccinated.
To receive the gift card incentive from the state, people must fill out an online form at https://100.wisconsin.gov or call 844-684-1064. At Thursday’s clinic, Grace Welcome Center volunteers will be available to help people register for the card, and those who do not have a mailing address may arrange to have their card mailed to the church and picked up later.
“It’s fantastic that both the state and Grace Welcome Center are able to continue these incentives,” said Kenosha County Health Officer Dr. Jen Freiheit. “Now is a great time to take a big step to help protect your health — and that of your loved ones — from the dangers of COVID-19.”
A free, hot, takeaway breakfast will also be offered to those who visit the clinic.
Through a partnership that began in February, Kenosha County Public Health has vaccinated more than 800 people in pop-up clinics at Grace. This has been part of an ongoing effort to make COVID-19 vaccination easily accessible throughout the community.
“Even with the recent surge of COVID-19 infections due primarily to the Delta variant, many Kenoshans remain hesitant to get vaccinated,” said Leif Peterson, executive director of the Grace Welcome Center. “The patient, caring approach shown by the staff of Kenosha County Public Health, as they answer individual questions and concerns of those coming to Grace Welcome Center, has been very successful in allaying the fears of those coming to inquire about vaccinations. As a result, each Friday morning several of our breakfast guests at GWC come up and proudly proclaim that they had just got vaccinated the previous day. They also express thanks that their questions were answered before they received the vaccine.
“I am extremely thankful to the Health Department for their steady presence at GWC to get as many members of our Uptown Community vaccinated as possible.”
For more information about Thursday’s clinic, please contact Peterson at 262-930-8325 or LPeterson.GraceWelcomeCenter@gmail.com.
More information about COVID-19 in Kenosha County, including local statistics and links to vaccine and testing providers, is available at https://www.kenoshacounty.org/covid-19.