Coronavirus: Kroger giving away $5M, free groceries in COVID-19 vaccine sweepstakes

CINCINNATI — Kroger shoppers nationwide now have millions of new reasons to consider receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Kroger Health, the health care arm of Cincinnati-based The Kroger Co., launched its vaccination incentive program Thursday, offering customers and associates who get their vaccines in a Kroger clinic or pharmacy the opportunity to win one of five $1 million payouts and 50 chances to win free groceries for a year.

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“The faster we reach community immunity, the sooner we can all get back to enjoying backyard barbecues, live music and gathering for special occasions,” Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, said in a prepared statement.

Specifically, McMullen called the #CommunityImmunity giveaway campaign “another way we are doing our part to help America recover from the public health crisis and safely return to normal.”

Registration for the five-week giveaway opens Thursday, Fox Business reported.

Kroger Health had distributed more than 4.6 million COVID-19 vaccines nationwide as of last week, KTLA reported.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 294 million COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across the United States as of Sunday, with nearly 63% of Americans 18 years and older receiving at least one dose and nearly 52% of those considered fully vaccinated.

Other companies offering high-profile incentives encouraging vaccination efforts include Budweiser, Sam Adams, Krispy Kreme, Target, Unilever, United Airlines, White Castle, Staples, Office Depot, Uber, Lyft and a host of dating apps, Fox Business reported.

“To vaccinate more Americans and help bring this pandemic to an end, we all have to do our part, and it’s exciting that Kroger is using innovative tactics to encourage vaccinations among its millions of customers across the country,” Ian Sams, deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a prepared statement.

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