Chicago COVID-19 Vaccination Incentives: A Guide to Freebies, Discounts, and Special Offers

Multiple businesses, event venues, and government entities have introduced promotional offers to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. These incentives range from free food and beverages to event tickets and retail discounts. The availability of these offers varies by location and time, with specific deadlines and eligibility requirements outlined by the participating organizations.

National Food and Beverage Offers

Several national food chains have implemented widespread vaccination incentive programs. Krispy Kreme launched a prominent offer providing a free original glazed doughnut to customers who present a valid COVID-19 vaccination card. This promotion is available to anyone who has received at least one dose of a Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The doughnut chain has stated this offer will remain available through the end of 2021, allowing customers to claim one free doughnut per day.

Budweiser introduced a limited-time promotion for eligible consumers. Through May 16, the beer company offered a free beer to individuals aged 21 and older who could provide proof of vaccination. To redeem this offer, participants were directed to submit their proof of vaccination through the website ABeerOnBud.com. In a variation of this offer, Budweiser also provided $5 debit cards to the first 10,000 people who signed up. For this specific promotion, the company accepted alternative forms of verification, including photos of "I Got Vaccinated" stickers, pictures of the Band-Aid on the arm, or selfies taken at the vaccination site, submitted via ABeerOnBud.com.

White Castle participated in these efforts through May 31. Customers who provided proof of vaccination at participating locations received a free dessert-on-a-stick. This offer was designed to drive foot traffic to their establishments while rewarding vaccinated patrons.

State-specific beverage offers also emerged. In Connecticut, a program ran from May 19 through May 31 where participating restaurants provided a free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink to anyone showing proof of having received one or both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, South Carolina saw local breweries offering free beers to individuals who received their vaccinations at on-site vaccination drives.

Retail and E-commerce Incentives

Beyond food and beverage, retail and e-commerce companies have offered financial incentives. Drop, an e-commerce company, provided $50 in credit to individuals who posted a "vaccine selfie" on Instagram using the hashtag #DropCovid and tagging @JoinDrop.

Office Depot and Office Max offered a service-based incentive nationwide through July 25. They provided free lamination for vaccine cards, allowing customers to protect their vaccination documentation. This offer was available at all participating locations across the country.

Event Tickets and Entertainment

Event venues and sports teams have utilized ticket giveaways to promote vaccination. In Chicago, the city launched the "Protect Chicago Music Series," a monthly music event series open exclusively to fully vaccinated residents. Free tickets for these events were distributed via Eventbrite. Attendees were required to show their vaccination card and make a reservation to attend the live musical performances. Chicago officials also noted the potential arrival of a "vaccine pass" in May, which could offer special discounts on concert tickets, haircuts, and salon treatments.

Sports teams across various leagues have offered tickets as incentives. The NFL announced a giveaway of 50 tickets to Super Bowl LVI. To enter, vaccinated individuals were encouraged to share why getting vaccinated was important to them on the Global Citizen website. This entry system also provided opportunities to win tickets to other events, including Live Nation concerts, NASCAR Daytona 500, and all-star games for MLB, MLS, NBA, WNBA, and NHL.

Major League Baseball teams offered direct incentives at their stadiums. Both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets offered vaccinations at their respective stadiums—Yankee Stadium and Citi Field—and provided a free ticket to a future game as an encouragement to get the shot. Other MLB teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Indians, also offered discounted or free tickets.

The New Mexico United soccer team hosted a vaccine tailgate where participants received free tickets to a future match. In New York, vaccination sites at major venues extended beyond baseball. Individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson shot at Citi Field or Yankee Stadium received a free ticket to a future game. Those vaccinated at the American Natural History Museum received a free pass for four people to visit the exhibits at a later date.

Local and Regional Incentives

Local initiatives targeted specific communities to increase vaccination rates. In Chicago Heights, Illinois, businesses collaborated to offer free items to fully vaccinated individuals. Prominent offers included free doughnuts from Krispy Kreme, free beer from Budweiser (for those 21 and older), and free dessert-on-a-stick from White Castle. One unique offer mentioned was from a local business providing free pot edibles to vaccinated customers.

In the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, city leaders and local businesses partnered to provide incentives at a vaccination event. Residents who received their vaccination at the It's Official Barbershop on West 63rd Street received a free haircut and five tickets to Six Flags Great America. This initiative aimed to address the sharp decline in vaccination rates in the area, where the seven-day rolling average had dropped significantly from a high of 100,000 shots per day earlier in the year to approximately 36,130 shots per day as of mid-May.

Other regional and state-level offers included: * Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Illinois): Free tours through the end of June for anyone showing proof of vaccination. * Talladega Superspeedway (Alabama): On May 15, Alabama officials allowed individuals who got vaccinated at a drive-up clinic to take two laps around the racetrack in their own cars at highway speed. * New York State: Offered free tickets to Mets and Yankees games, the Bronx Zoo, and free trips on the Metro with proof of vaccination. * Washington State: Announced a "Joints for Jabs" promotion, allowing adults aged 21 or older to claim a free marijuana joint upon receiving their shot. This promotion was scheduled to run through July 12.

Cannabis Industry Offers

The cannabis industry also participated in vaccination incentives. In Illinois, one business offered free pot edibles to fully vaccinated individuals. In Washington State, the "Joints for Jabs" program specifically targeted adults aged 21 and older, providing a free marijuana joint at the time of vaccination. These offers reflect a broader trend of businesses across various sectors contributing to vaccination efforts.

Verification and Eligibility

Most offers required individuals to be "fully vaccinated," which generally meant having received at least one shot of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Proof of vaccination was typically required in the form of a CDC vaccination card, though some programs accepted alternative verification methods, such as photos of the vaccination site, Band-Aids, or "I Got Vaccinated" stickers.

Deadlines for these promotions varied significantly. While some offers, like the Krispy Kreme doughnut, extended through the end of 2021, others were much more limited, such as the Budweiser beer offer which ended on May 16. Consumers were advised to check the specific terms and conditions of each offer for exact expiration dates and eligibility criteria.

Conclusion

The landscape of COVID-19 vaccination incentives is diverse, encompassing national food chains, local businesses, sports teams, and government agencies. Offers range from tangible goods like doughnuts and beer to high-value event tickets and financial credits. These initiatives highlight a concerted effort by various sectors to overcome vaccine hesitancy and increase immunization rates. While the specific details and availability of these incentives are subject to change and regional variation, they represent a significant array of benefits available to those who choose to get vaccinated.