Cumberland Health Department offers $100 to new recipients of COVID-19 vaccine

As an incentive for the holidays, the Cumberland County Public Health Department announced that each person receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time can receive $100.

“Keep your family safe for the holidays and get vaccinated today! First dose recipients can get $100 in prepaid cards for their holiday shopping,” Cumberland CountyHealth Department Director Jennifer Green said in a statement. “Our hope is that this will encourage our community to come out and get vaccinated.”

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The holiday incentive began Wednesday and ends Dec. 15. Recipients must be at least 18 years old in order to receive the $100 incentive. Recipients under the age of 18 and those receiving a second or booster dose are not eligiblefor the incentive.

During the holiday season last year, COVID-19 cases were on the rise, Green said. 

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“In the last seven days, according to the CDC dashboard, we’ve had 501 cases,” Green said. “We are still in high transmission and that’s based on two metrics.”

The Center's for Disease Control and prevention’s data tracker uses a seven-day average, Green said.

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The transmission rate is determined by new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and the number of positive COVID-19 tests in seven days. There are nearly 150 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in Cumberland County, Green said.

According to the CDC, Cumberland County’s COVID-19 case positivity rate is nearly7%.

Residents can receive a COVID-19 vaccine or be tested for the disease at the Cumberland County Health Department from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents who require transportation to  vaccination sites can call 910-678-7619, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or 910-483-6869, ext. 1017.

While COVD-19 community transmission is high, Green said, overall trends are improving.

For a list of COVID-19 vaccination sites, visit the Cumberland County Health Department online or call 910- 433-7657.

Health and education writer Ariana-Jasmine Castrellon can be reached at acastrellon@gannett.com or 910-486-3561.

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