CLEVELAND — Tomorrow at Elizabeth Baptist Church, Greater Cleveland Congregations launches a new effort to get vaccines in arms – cash.
“It's a hundred dollars for the first shot. It's $50. Your second shot, $25 for your booster. And then $25, no limit for you to refer a person to come and get vaccinated,” said Keisha Krumm, GCC’s Lead Organizer and Executive Director.
GCC says the research shows it’s hard to find a better motivator than money. They saw it work last summer when five churches donated to a pool of $5000. They offered $50 to those being vaccinated and ran out of money quickly. “Our pastors said, we should apply for a grant and see if we can get it and, you know, give a majority of that money back to the people,” she said.
Now “Dollars for Doses” will use grant funds as an incentive at seven pop-up vaccination clinics, starting Saturday and extending into September. “it's just like, I can get a benefit and help the community at the same time. And so we're really excited about it. We think it's the right moment,” said Krumm. “In this case we are all for instant gratification. Come get your vaccinations, get your money, and we'll see you back in three to four weeks.”
All three approved vaccines will be available, and all vaccine eligible age groups are included – everyone 5 and up. The Centers for Families and Children is working with GCC, and will staff the clinics. All three approved vaccines will be available, and all eligible age groups are included – everyone 5 and up.
“We are bringing a number of vaccinations and vaccinators so that we can provide which with every vaccine they want and a fit their age and where they're at in the vaccination status too,” said The Centers Pharmacy Director Eric Geyer.
You can register in advance online by clicking here.
As of Friday afternoon, 120 people already did. They are also taking walk-ins. They’ll also be handing out N95 masks. If you’re coming for a second or third shot, be sure to bring your vaccine card.
Doctors say even though the Omicron wave has passed, the coronavirus isn't going away.
“Today, we're one place, you know, and it could be a month we're somewhere very different,” said The Centers Chief Medical Officer Dr. LaTasha Jarrett. “We don't want to be remiss. And then all of a sudden it's upon us again.”
“I want to be optimistic, but it seems to be a bit tricky,” said Dr. Jarrett. “We have these ups and downs where it seems like all is back to normal and then another variant comes somewhere in the world. So that being said, I think we need to be very cautious, in thinking that this is it.”
For the churches, it's about getting back to normal together. “Let's get to the, to the finish line,” said Elizabeth Baptist Pastor Richard Gibson. “Where we can make this possible for the residents, it is a manifestation or a showing of our love."
“There are many people who do need funds, especially during this difficult time,” he said. “And so the ability to come in in their neighborhood to give vaccinated, if they take away a hundred dollars or for a family, with many persons, they could take away several hundred dollars. There's great appreciation.”
GCC is focused on zip codes with particularly low vaccination rates in Cuyahoga County, such as the Fairfax, Slavic Village, and Central neighborhoods. It’s also focusing on young people, working with Cleveland Schools. “It's going be going in backpacks…for kids to come with their guardian to get vaccinated,” said Krumm.
Running out of money again, like GCC saw last summer, would be a great problem to have, said Krumm. “If we run out of money early, we’re going to go out and raise more money…because it’s a great investment for our community. If it really works, we should invest more in it.”
“It's a way of getting the hardest people off the couch and to get vaccinated and young people and we should do more of it.”
Here’s the list of clinic locations:
- February 19, 10 am - 2 pm: Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave Cleveland 44127
- March 5, 12 pm - 4 pm: Shiloh Baptist Church, 5500 Scovill Ave Cleveland 44104
- March 19, 10 am - 2 pm: Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 8712 Quincy Ave Cleveland 44104
- April 2, 10 am - 2 pm: Imani United Church of Christ, 1505 E 260th St Euclid 44132
- April 16, 10 am - 2 pm: Lee Road Baptist Church, 3970 Lee Rd. Cleveland 44128 (Easter Sunday)
- April 30, 10 am - 2 pm: Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave Cleveland 44127
- May 14, 10 am - 2 pm: Imani United Church of Christ, 1505 E 260th St Euclid 44132
- May 28, 10 am - 2 pm: Lee Road Baptist Church, 3970 Lee Rd Cleveland 44128 (Memorial Day weekend)
- June 11, 12 pm - 4 pm: Shiloh Baptist Church, 5500 Scovill Ave Cleveland 44104
- June 25, 10 am - 2 pm: Antioch Baptist Church, 8869 Cedar Ave Cleveland 44106
- July 9, 10 am - 2 pm: Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave Cleveland 44127
- July 23, 10 am - 2 pm: Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 8712 Quincy Ave Cleveland 44104
- August 6, 12 pm - 4 pm: Shiloh Baptist Church, 5500 Scovill Ave Cleveland 44104
- August 20, 10 am - 2 pm: Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave Cleveland 44127
- September 10, 10 am - 2 pm: South Euclid United Church of Christ, 4217 Bluestone Rd Cleveland 44121
- September 24, 10 am - 2 pm: Lee Road Baptist Church, 3970 Lee Rd. Cleveland 44128
For more information, contact the Centers for Families and Children at (216) 325-9355 or click on the link to all the “Dollars for Doses” events.
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.