Norman Begins Vaccine Incentive Program In October

Norman’s City Council passed a new program that will provide incentives for residents who get their COVID-19 vaccination. 

The program was passed with some alterations, most notably, the removal of a $25 thousand grand prize. 

Instead, the city will be using $100 thousand for marketing, vaccine pods and mobile vaccination clinics. They will be giving $25 gift cards to residents who go get the vaccine. The cards will be to locally owned businesses in Norman. 

City employees who get the shot will be given a $250 bonus. 

The overall cost of the project is $500 thousand, all coming from the American Rescue Plan. 

Some councilmembers argued the $25 gift cards wouldn’t be enough to persuade anyone who hasn’t already gotten the vaccine. Norman Mayor Breea Clark argued it was worth a try. 

"Are we going to look back and say 'well we didn't think it would work so we didn't even try.' Wow, I hope you still have some fight in you friends, because it's a long battle ahead of us unfortunately," said Clark. 

According to the plan, any unspent money will go back into the American Rescue Plan Act. 

The new pods and incentives will be available starting October 1 and ending November 30.