Minnesotans can now register to get $100 for getting the COVID-19 vaccine

Minnesotans who have recently gotten the first dose of the  COVID-19 vaccine can now request $100 from a reward site.

People ages 12 and older who get their first dose between July 30 and Aug. 15 can submit a request for a $100 Visa gift card from the state online here. 

This is the latest incentive from the state of Minnesota in its effort to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19, especially as the Delta variant has been leading to higher case counts and hospitalizations in Minnesota. 

Related: List of places in Minnesota now requiring or recommending face masks

“If you are still waiting to get your vaccine, this is your chance to get $100 just for rolling up your sleeves,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement. “We face a critical juncture in the pandemic – the Delta variant is pushing cases up across the country, including right here in Minnesota. As we head into the fall and kids go back to school, the best tool we have to fight COVID-19 is any of the three safe, free, and highly effective vaccines. Now is the time to get your shot, and get $100, Minnesota.”

The $100 reward request must be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 15. Reward seekers' vaccine information will be subject to verification by the state. 

“For those who are eligible to get vaccinated but haven’t yet done so, this is the time to do it,” Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said in a statement. “A full vaccination series provide strong protection against serious COVID-19 illness and hospitalization, and, as Minnesotans, it’s another way we take care of ourselves and each other. And, until Aug. 15, every new first vaccination could come with $100.”

The governor will authorize up to $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan money for this program. As of right now, the $100 reward is limited to the first 24,330 eligible submissions. 

Related: List of places in Minnesota now requiring COVID vaccines

Walz plans to seek legislative approval for additional funding to sustain the program, as well as on additional incentive programs to urge people to get the vaccine. 

The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone. You can walk-in or make an appointment to get the jab via the state's Vaccine Connector here or use the state's vaccine locator map to find a provider near you. You can also call MDH's COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-431-2053.

As of Wednesday, 57% of the state's total population has gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. That includes children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for the vaccine, has completed the vaccine series. That jumps to 64.0% when excluding kids under the age of 12. MDH has a public dashboard to track vaccine progress in Minnesota, and you can view it here.