Got the COVID Vaccine? Here are Some Freebies You Can Snag in Pennsylvania

From free rides to your vaccine appointment to free beer, the list of businesses in Pennsylvania offering incentives to employees and customers to get vaccinated is growing.

In March, Krispy Kreme launched a yearlong promotion to give a free doughnut each day to anyone who shows proof they got vaccinated against COVID-19.

Most people’s opinions around the vaccine won’t be swayed just because of a single giveaway. However, several freebies or bonuses might make them think again.

In addition to Krispy Kreme, myriad other companies are also attempting to get people excited about reaching herd immunity. 

Below is a list of some of the current offers available to people who get the COVID-19 vaccine:

• Free rides to vaccine appointments. Both Lyft and Uber are providing free transportation to vaccination centers. 
• Paid time off to get vaccinated. Aldi, Best Buy, Darden Restaurants (which owns Bahama Breeze, Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, and more) Dollar General, Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s (corporate and corporate-owned locations), Target, and Trader Joe’s are offering up to four hours of paid time off to get both doses of the vaccine. Amtrak is offering employees 2 hours of paid time off to get vaccinated.
• Bonuses for vaccinated Kroger employees. All hourly vaccinated employees of Kroger will get a one-time $100 bonus and an additional $100 store credit. Employees who opt out due to medical or religious reasons can also complete a health and safety course to receive the bonuses.
• Bonuses for vaccinated Marriott employees. Marriott International will give any employee who gets vaccinated a one-time bonus that equals four hours of their pay.
• Bonuses for vaccinated Petco employees. For each “partner” who gets vaccinated, Petco will pay a one-time $75 bonus and deposit $25 into its Petco Partner Assistance Fund, which provides assistance to employees experiencing financial hardship.
• Free lamination of your vaccination card. Staples will laminate your completed vaccination card for free. Office Depot and OfficeMax will make a copy of your completed vaccination card and laminate it for free through July 25 with this coupon. 
• Free bagels. Panera is offering one free bagel (any flavor!) per day to vaccinated customers from July 2 to 4 at participating locations.
• Free beer. Through the month of May, Evil Genius Brewing Co. is offering a free 16-ounce beer to taproom customers who get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
• More free beer. Samuel Adams will send $7 for beer to folks who post a photo of their vaccination badge or bandage on Instagram or Twitter. Participants must tag @samueladamsbeer and use the hashtag #ShotForSam, and then look for a DM from the beer company. Samuel Adams will send the money through CashApp, so participants must be ready to provide a CashApp username. The promotion is available for the first 10,000 people to enter by May 15. And there are no rules for how you spend the money. (You could even use it to buy Yuengling. We won’t tell.)
• Free Rita’s Water Ice in Bucks County. Each person who gets vaccinated at one of Bucks County’s mass vaccination clinics will get a voucher for a free Rita’s frozen treat.
• Free snack or drink. The Vitamin Shoppe is offering a free healthy snack or drink to customers who show proof of vaccination from May 4 to 31.
• Discount on an order from Drop. Get $50 off your next order through the e-commerce company Drop when you post a vaccine selfie on Instagram and tag @JoinDrop and use the hashtag #DropCovid.
• Coupon from Target. Each person who gets vaccinated at one of Target’s in-store CVS pharmacies will get a $5 coupon for the popular department store.

Do you know of any other businesses in Pennsylvania that are offering bonuses to vaccinated employees or freebies to customers? Tell us at [email protected], and we’ll add them to the list after we verify it.