Gwinnett County to offer gift cards at COVID-19 vaccination event

Gwinnett County is offering $100 Visa gift cards to people ages 12 and up who receive a COVID-19 vaccine at its vaccine incentive event this weekend.

The “Vaccines Aren’t Scary” event, in partnership with the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments, will be held Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, at the vaccine site inside the former Sears at Gwinnett Place Mall.

Gift cards will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the two-day event. The site will offer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Participants should make an appointment at GCGA.us/VaccineIncentive to secure their slot during the event and guarantee their gift card.

Appointments must be made by 9 a.m. on Thursday for the Friday date and by 9 a.m. Friday for the Saturday date.

Officials said more than 53 percent of Gwinnett residents have been fully vaccinated, but in recent months, demand for vaccines has slowed.

“All of our residents are busy, some were waiting for more information and some simply haven’t gotten around to getting vaccinated yet,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson. “We’re giving residents another reason to get vacci\nated now in the hopes that this is the little push some people need to go ahead and get their shot.”

The County is using federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to pay for the vaccine incentive gift cards.

The Gwinnett Place Mall site, which the County operates in partnership with the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments, has been providing vaccinations to residents since it opened in February.

“The only way out of this pandemic is through vaccination,” said Dr. Audrey Arona, district health director for Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments. “We’re grateful to the County for providing incentives and hope this opportunity moves more of our community to choose to be vaccinated.”

Guests are asked to bring their insurance card and identification, if applicable. People without insurance or ID will not be turned away. Regardless of insurance status, the vaccine is offered at no cost.

The vaccination site is located at 2100 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.