City Launches Own Vaccine Incentive Program With Urban League

Courtesy of the Columbus Underground
June 15, 2021

The City of Columbus will launch a vaccine program to combat vaccine hesitancy and incentivize Columbus residents that have not yet been vaccinated to get the shot.

The $275,000 Vaccine Green program will be administered by the Columbus Urban League and will provide $100 to residents for getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine shot or $50 for each shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines

To qualify, individuals must be a resident of Columbus and receive at least one vaccination on or after June 14.

“The financial support aims to bridge accessibility gaps to promote an equitable recovery for every person in every neighborhood, especially communities of color that we know were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, and in some neighborhoods that continue to have vaccination rates under 40%,” said City Council Pro Tempore Elizabeth Brown.

Funding for the incentive program coincides with the extension of the city’s Right to Recover program, which provides financial relief for low-income residents affected by a COVID-19 diagnosis. Funding for that program has now been extended through Dec. 31.

Brown said there are a number of hurdles for Columbus residents to access the vaccine, including no access to paid time off or reliable childcare, and hesitation for some workers for fear of short-term side effects from the vaccine interfering with their return to work.

“Missing time at work in order to care for your health can spell financial ruin for your family,” said Brown. “The underlying idea remains the same: For many low-income workers, the burden of missing work can prevent them from getting vaccinated.”

A website will soon be launched to help residents sign up for the program.

Visit cul.org/vaccinegreen for more information