MORGANTOWN — The program to offer people aged 16-35 $100 for getting vaccinated is taking a bit more shape, Gov. Jim Justice said during Monday’s COVID-19 briefing.
Earlier discussions have bounced between a savings bond or a patriotically themed gift card. Now residents may be offered a choice.
“We’re working on both of those right now,” the governor said. “We’re going to give people the flexibility to go two ways.”
As has been discussed previously, savings bonds mature over 20 years; gift cards offer immediate money in the pocket. Justice added Monday that the savings bond won’t be the old-fashioned certificate, it would be electronic.
Joint Interagency Task Force Director James Hoyer said hospitals are now making vaccines available for patients upon discharge, when it’s appropriate.
Also, he said, primary care providers can start picking up vaccine doses this week to administer to their patients, and PCPs are continuing to sign up.
Hoyer repeated a point he made last week regarding the importance of the vaccine: 160,000 more Americans have died from COVID than died during the four years of World War II.
Justice picked up on that theme: “All we are asking you to do to stop this war is go get vaccinated.”
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
