Beer is latest vaccine incentive for Biden’s ‘month of action’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is announcing a "month of action" Wednesday to urge more Americans to get vaccinated for Covid-19 before the July 4 holiday, with an early summer sprint of incentives, including free beer, childcare and sports tickets to convince Americans to roll up their sleeves.

In an afternoon address from the White House, Biden will announce a slew of new initiatives to ease barriers to vaccinations and to make getting shots more appealing to those who haven't received a dose yet. It comes as he is closing in on his goal to get 70% of adults partially vaccinated by Independence Day — essential to his goal of returning the nation to a prepandemic sense of normalcy this summer.

"We're looking at June as a critical month in our path to normal and as a critical month in order to continue the progress we're making in our vaccination campaign," Courtney Rowe, the director of strategic communications and engagement to the White House Covid-19 response team, told the AP.

The White House said Biden's "month of action" will continue to use public and private-sector partnerships to encourage Americans to get shots, mirroring the "whole of government" effort Biden deployed to make vaccines more widely available once he took office.

Anheuser-Busch announced a promotional giveaway Wednesday morning, saying it would "buy Americans 21+ a round of beer" once Biden's 70% goal is met.

Additionally, the White House is partnering with early childhood centers such as KinderCare, Learning Care Group, Bright Horizons and more than 500 YMCAs to provide free childcare coverage for Americans looking for shots or needing assistance while recovering from side effects.

They're the latest vaccine sweeteners, building on other incentives like cash giveaways, sports tickets or paid leave, to keep up the pace of vaccinations.

"The fact remains that despite all the progress, those who are unvaccinated still remain at risk of getting seriously ill or dying or spreading the disease to others," said Rowe.

Aiming to make injections even more convenient, Biden is announcing that many pharmacies are extending their hours this month — and thousands will remain open overnight on Fridays. The White House is also stepping up its efforts to help employers run onsite vaccination clinics. It's launching a new partnership to bring vaccine education and even doses to more than a thousand Black-owned barbershops and beauty salons, building on a successful pilot program in Maryland.

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald An American Red Cross blood drive was held at the Forrest City Civic Center Tuesday. Teresa Barton, left, inserts a needle into the arm of Lt. Rodney Myers, with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, so that his donation can begin. Myers said he is working toward his two-gallon donation badge.

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald The month-long celebration of Juneteenth kicked off on Tuesday with a health fair in Madison. Taraji Kiyumbi, left, films Angela Wilburn as she opens the celebration by telling people about the upcoming events regarding Juneteenth. According to Wilburn, people from other cities and states have already purchased tickets to some of the events scheduled for later this month in Forrest City.