Free tickets to Six Flags Great America – the Thrill Capital of the Midwest – is the latest incentive to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Six Flags Great America has agreed to donate 50,000 free tickets to anyone who receives their COVID-19 vaccine at city-run sites, including the Gurnee park itself. In an official statement, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the $4 million worth of tickets will be used as an incentive to boost vaccination rates as the demand for the vaccine has fallen in Illinois and across the country.
According to Illinois.gov, “the state is sending Illinois National Guard mobile vaccination teams to their Gurnee location starting the first weekend in June: Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th. If turnout is high, vaccination teams will return to continue offering this lifesaving protection to residents.”
A significant portion of the tickets will also be distributed through local health departments and local organizations and will target minority communities. The free tickets will grant entry to the amusement parks in Gurnee and Rockford, Illinois. Six Flags Great America is expected to announce additional details in the coming days.
Who doesn’t love @SixFlags? If you receive your vaccination at any city and mobile site, you can receive up to five tickets (while supplies last)! Don’t wait. Get vaxxed up. 🎢
To find a vax site near you ➡️: https://t.co/pMy5FdcyDe #ProtectChicago pic.twitter.com/88A1nxezFi
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) May 27, 2021
The free tickets follow CDC’s recommendation earlier this month that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on children between 12-15 years old.
As demand for the vaccine has fallen, numerous states and organizations little and large have turned to offering incentives in an attempt to increase vaccination rates. Free donuts from Krispy Kreme and free beer from Budweiser were two corporate giants to offer incentives nationwide and local governments across the country have similarly followed suit.
Welcome back, Buds.
Get a round on us when you show you’ve been vaccinated at https://t.co/o34HFqGtID pic.twitter.com/KCUbnsqlCR— Budweiser (@budweiserusa) April 15, 2021
Residents of New York City who were vaccinated prior to Mets and Yankees games this month have been receiving free tickets to future games while Ohio launched a lottery in earlier May that randomly awards one vaccinated resident a week a $1 million prize.
Tickets will be distributed at Six Flags’ mobile vaccination site at Gurnee park on the weekend of June 5 and 6. The mobile vaccination site will return on following weekends if the turnout is high.
In an official statement the Six Flags Great America Park President, Hank Salemi, said “Six Flags Great America is proud to support the state of Illinois vaccination efforts, especially in underrepresented communities. We’re getting back to the thrills and want to do our part to encourage residents to get vaccinated.”
ISO weekend riders!🎢
📸: @magnumxl89 pic.twitter.com/b79vmzEbZf— SF Great America (@SFGreat_America) May 21, 2021
More information will be released by Six Flags soon.
See more: 10 Essential Chicago Bucket List Experiences For 2021
[Featured image from Twitter @sfgreat_america]