‘Open Arms’ offers incentives for vaccine recipients

For the first time on the Coast, a $50 incentive is given to new COVID vaccine recipients.

Open Arms Health Care Center is offering $50 to persons receiving their first COVID vaccine and an additional $50 for the required second shot.

This is their first community vaccine distribution offering the $50 gift card incentive. Today they gave over 100 gift cards to participants.

Open Arms found it fitting to serve the underserved and under-insured population during the Mississippi Health Disparities Conference at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center.

Drive-up vaccination stations are organized in the coliseum parking lot.

As an additional health benefit, Open Arms is offering free health screenings for the community in their 40-foot mobile clinic. Open Arms Organizational Development Director Deja Abdul-Haqq said, “Getting vaccines into arms is what we’re going to need to get past the pandemic. Every individual has to be a part of that solution, but in order for them to be a part of that solution we had to create easier access. So, one, we came down to bring the vaccines to the beautiful communities on the Coast. Two, we wanted to be sure that we thanked you for prioritizing your health by providing the $50 incentive for the first shot and $50 incentive for the second shot.”

Open Arms will be at the Coast Coliseum again Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. giving free COVID shots with the gift card incentive.