CT Lures Youth To Coronavirus Vaccine With Free Concert Tickets

CONNECTICUT — The number of young people electing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus has begun to trail off, so the state is sweetening the pot.

On Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced the launch of Connecticut’s "Rock the Shot" promotional campaign. The program is meant to encourage residents to get vaccinated by giving away chances to win pairs of tickets to music concerts.

The list of concerts currently available through "Rock the Shot" include:

Xfinity Theatre – Hartford

• 7/16 – Luke Bryan
• 8/21 – Thomas Rhett
• 9/3 – Lil Baby
• 9/29 – Jonas Brothers
• 10/8 – Florida Georgia Line

HHC Amphitheater – Bridgeport

• 8/20 – Brothers Osborne
• 9/8 – Trippie Redd
• 9/29 – NF
• 10/1 – Rod Wave

More concerts will be added to the "Rock the Shot" campaign as they are announced and tickets go on sale. The campaign may also expand to include additional venues across Connecticut, according to a news release.

Connecticut residents 18 and older who have been vaccinated may fill out entry forms to win tickets online here. Drawings will be held weekly on Thursdays in July, starting on July 8. Winners will be contacted once their vaccination status is verified.

The website also includes a list of available concerts, as well as the locations for the select clinics and which concert tickets will be available at those locations. More concerts will be added throughout the month.

One other way to win is to be one of the first 24 people to get vaccinated at select clinics, to be announced.

"We have seen a decrease in vaccination rates, especially among younger adults, and our hope is that 'Rock the Shot' will give people an added incentive to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19," said Deidre Gifford, acting commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Employees of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Office of the Governor, LiveNation, and any other entities involved in the organization and distribution of the "Rock the Shot" promotion are not eligible to participate.