Over 5,000 Chicagoans have been vaccinated at home, new incentives hope to increase that strategy.

By: Leona Dunn | July 28, 2021

CHICAGO- The Chicago Department of Health has decided to add a new reward to the city's in home vaccination program. The first week of August, if residents sign up to be vaccinated at home, they will receive a $25 visa gift card as the city phases out the grub hub sponsorship that initially helped launch the program.

Protect Chicago At Home has made, on demand, in home vaccinations available to all Chicago residents over 12-years-old, since its last extension in June.

The program launched in March to reach elderly and disabled chicagoans who didn't have easy access to pop up vaccination clinics. It made it easier for those residents to get vaccinated by offering in home care.

The care eventually came with $50.00 gift cards from grub hub as an incentive for more people to use the program as vaccination eligibility requirements opened up. Now the city is offering money with no business attached, as coronavirus cases begin to rise in both unvaccinated and vaccinated residents.

“As we see a resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country and here in Chicago, we know it is primarily affecting those who are unvaccinated, which is why it is so critical we get more people in Chicago vaccinated,"said Allison Arwady, M.D., Commissioner, at the Chicago Department of Public Health.

According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, residents that are not fully vaccinated account for 97 percent of this years hospitalizations and deaths.

Dr. Arwady got specific stating since January 2021, Chicago has seen about 788 deaths due to Covid-19 and 767 deaths were in people unvaccinated.

The city has also begin to expand their travel advisory list, as covid-19 cases begin to climb nationwide. There are now 14 states and the Virgin Islands territory on Chicago's travel advisory list. For people who are vaccinated the travel advisory does not apply.

On August 2, The Protect Chicago At Home program will distribute the new incentive ( $25 visa gift cards) to Chicago residents that register and complete an appointment.

“At-home vaccination is certainly one of the easiest and most convenient ways to be vaccinated. Make an appointment, and the vaccine will come to you,” Dr. Arwdy said.

Call (312) 746-4835 to make an appointment or register here; www.chicago.gov/athome.

Leona Dunn is a multimedia journalist currently freelancing in the Chicagoland area.

@leonajdunn