State Offers New $75 COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives At Malden Clinics

MALDEN, MA — A program offering $75 COVID-19 vaccine incentives is back this year in Malden and other locations around Massachusetts after an initial run last fall, the state Department of Public Health announced Thursday.

First launched in October of last year, the vaccine incentive program provides a $75 gift card to those who receive a COVID-19 vaccination through a participating clinic.

The Department of Public Health initially offered incentives at a series of clinics in Malden through the end of November. The agency is now bringing incentives back with gift cards available at weekly clinics at the Malden YMCA at 99 Dartmouth St. on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through March 25.

The clinics will offer first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses, as well as the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster.

No ID or proof of health insurance is required.

Officials in their announcement last week said gift cards will be from a local retailer.

The Department of Public Health recently noted data from the Centers for Disease Control, which showed at least 93% of Massachusetts residents older than six months have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. CDC data showed 64% of fully vaccinated individuals in Massachusetts have had a booster, as cited by the Department of Public Health.

“We’d like to see as many people vaccinated as possible, so we are offering these community-based COVID vaccination clinics – including a $75 gift card incentive at select locations – to make it easier for people to protect themselves and those around them,” Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke said in a recent statement. “These boosters provide the best protection against the Omicron subvariants, which are currently the most prevalent strains of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.”

Cooke said the vaccine and its boosters “are proven to be safe and effective for adults and children.”

“If you’ve been thinking about getting the vaccine, now is the time,” Cooke said.

The Department of Public Health has listed over 400 clinics around Massachusetts that are participating in its new round of COVID-19 vaccine incentives. See the full list here.