Butler County hopes new restaurant coupons help lagging vaccination numbers

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Butler County health officials hope a financial incentive will encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine while helping them spend on the local economy.

As of Monday, more than 151,700 people have started the vaccination process in Butler County. Nearly 131,000 have completed the process. The number of people completing the vaccination process remains high, but the starting the vaccination process has decreased since peaking earlier in the spring.

From April 16 to May 15, more than 17,000 people started the vaccination process in Butler County. In the month prior, from March 17 to April 15, more than 60,800 started the process.

The state is attempting to encourage vaccinations with a possible $1 million windfall through its Ohio Vax-a-Million program as the state has also seen a significant drop in vaccinations

Butler County officials hope to encourage people to become vaccinated with a $20 coupon to participating county restaurants. The county’s General Health District and the city health departments in Hamilton and Middletown are partnering in the initiative. When the coupons will be distributed, and to which restaurants, is not yet set, said Erin Smiley, Butler County General Health District health promotion director.

“We’ll have a better idea of the restaurants participating later this week,” she said. “We are working with the chambers, (county) Visitors Bureau, and the county to finalize program components.”

It’s also uncertain if those who were already vaccinated can receive the $20 coupon.

“It’s still being worked on,” she said.

Butler County Health Commissioner Jennifer Bailer said the restaurant coupon program will be funded by the BC Cares Initiative, which is funded with coronavirus relief funds via the CARES Act.

“It stimulates growth and opportunity for our businesses, while also keeping our residents safe, healthy and protected from COVID,” she said.

The Vax-A-Million program was announced last week where for over the course of five weeks, starting May 26, one Ohioan who has been vaccinated will be chosen to win $1 million paid for from the state’s unexpended coronavirus relief funds. They must also opt-in, which they can do starting today at www.ohiovaxamillion.com or by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

To encourage vaccinations among children 17 and under, the state will draw five names of inoculated children who will be awarded a full four-year scholarship to any of Ohio’s state colleges and universities, which includes full tuition, room and board, and books. This is also an opt-in program, which that process begins today, and the first of five drawings start next week.

The program has drawn harsh criticism from lawmakers and citizens, saying the program is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

DeWine anticipated the criticism and defends the program by saying, “The real waste at this point in the pandemic ― when the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it ― is a life lost to COVID-19.”


HOW TO GET VACCINATED THIS WEEK

People can sign up online for Butler County’s vaccination drive-thru clinic at the county fairgrounds, though registration is not required. The clinics are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Friday at the Butler County Fairgrounds, 1715 Fairgrove Ave., Hamilton.

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