Use them or lose them: Edgecombe races to give out remaining vaccination cash cards

North Carolina's summer vaccination incentive program ended last week in most counties, but Edgecombe County is still in a race against the clock to give out the rest of its $100 rewards.

Posted 9:37 p.m. Sep 7, 2021 — Updated 11:14 p.m. Sep 7, 2021

Keenan Willard

, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — North Carolina’s summer vaccination incentive program ended last week in most counties, but Edgecombe County is still in a race against the clock to give out the rest of its $100 rewards.

The staff at one local vaccination clinic said Tuesday they’ve already seen an impact from the incentives.

"In our community, there was a lot of skepticism about getting vaccinated, but now, people are seeing those who have gotten COVID-19 and passed away versus those who have gotten vaccinated," Word Tabernacle Church health and wellness director Christy Arnold said. “More people are getting vaccinated now because they are seeing that the vaccine works."

A steady stream of people arrived at Word Tabernacle Church, in Rocky Mount, on Tuesday to fill out paperwork, wait their turn and receive their vaccinations. But the shot wasn’t the only reason they showed up.

New state incentives push those on fence to get vaccinated

Everyone coming through the clinic would also walk away with a $100 cash card, part of the state’s vaccine incentive program.

“Our numbers have gone up tremendously since we’ve been giving out the cards,” Edgecombe County Health Department coordinator of health services Thomas Stebner said.

The health department has until Sunday to give out as many of the cash cards as possible before having to return any left to state officials, Stebner said.

“In an effort to get the cards out to more people, they extended this [program] so that, when we have to send them back, they don’t receive as many," he said.

Experts said the cards have brought a much needed boost to vaccination rates in Edgecombe County.

Federal data show just 37% of county residents were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday, but the county also saw a 3% jump in its vaccination rate over the past four weeks, compared with a 1% increase from July to August.

“The interest had kind of fallen, and then we started back up with these cards, and people really started coming out for these cards, in particular,” Stebner said.

Get a COVID-19 vaccine, get $100 at NCCU clinic

Clinic staff said they hope to see the state offer a new round of vaccination incentives in the coming months. But they weren’t sure when that might be.

For now, they were just thankful the cards have still been getting people through the door.

“For those individuals that want to be proactive and come and get their vaccine, because, again, the vaccines do work, it melts my heart,” Arnold said. “I’m excited.”

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