Hundreds of Southern Nevadans turned out over the weekend to get vaccinated — and pick up $100 gift cards as rewards.
The two-day effort at El Dorado High School, which drew several hundred both days, was intended to improve Nevada’s vaccination rate, which is in the lower half of all states.
“We know we need people vaccinated,” said Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, who pushed for the program and was at the event at the high school. “So whatever it takes, let's do it.”
Segerblom said he had been worried about the public saying, "what a stupid idea" and not showing up, “but you can see that actually, there is incentive there with the $100.”
Nevada Public Radio producer Christoper Alvarez said there were about 100 people lined up outside the high school when he was there on Saturday.
“It was quiet. It was calm, which is good,” he said.
One attendee said that his desire for a gift card topped his concern about the vaccine’s safety.
“I'm still worried about it now, but I'm just gonna do it and just pray about it,” said Rodrick Russum.
Christopher Alvarez, producer, State of Nevada
