See How Oakland County Is Incentivizing Getting The COVID Vaccine

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Health officials around the state have taken steps to incentivize getting the COVID-19 vaccine. In Ohio and North Carolina? A vaccine lottery. In Oakland County? A $50 gift card incentive.

The Oakland County Health Division introduced its $50 gift card incentive to any Oakland County resident receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine from Thursday until July 4. Oakland County officials said the county is on the cusp of reaching the goal of vaccinating 70 percent of residents 16 and older by July 4, with more than 68 percent of those residents having recieved at least their first dose.

“Vaccination remains the best tool to beat this pandemic,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “We have made great strides in our efforts but there is still work to be done and with more and more of our residents getting vaccinated, I’m confident all of our summer plans will be back to normal very soon.”

The target age group for this push to reach the 70 percent goal is young adults and teens, the county said in a news release. Seventy-two percent of Oakland County residents 30 and older have received at least their first dose. Only 54 percent of Oakland County residents ages 16-29 years old have had their first dose, according to county data.

Oakland County residents who receive their first dose from June 24 to July 4 at a provider other than Oakland County Health Division may claim the incentive by visiting OaklandCountyVaccine.com to complete a survey. The gift card will be mailed after the Health Division has verified vaccination status. They also can call the Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 to claim their gift card.