On the heels of its first “Kids Deserve a Shot!” initiative, which provided incentives to 12 to 17 year-olds, the State of Minnesota has launched another program for kids 5 to 11 years of age. Families whose eligible children receive their both their first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by February 28, 2022, can register to receive a $200 VISA gift card. To be eligible for a gift card, Minnesota children must:
- Be at least 5 years old at the time of one or both shots;
- Be 11 years old or younger at the time of their first shot, and;
- Receive both their first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine between January 1, 2022, and February 28, 2022.
Minnesota families will be eligible to receive one $200 VISA gift card for each child that meets these requirements. Families can register online to receive their gift card(s) beginning at 10:00 am CST on Monday, January 24, 2022, by visiting the following link. Registration will close at 11:59 pm CST on Monday, February 28, 2022. Gift card requests will be processed beginning March 1, 2022. Please allow up to six weeks to receive your card(s) via U.S. Mail.
In addition to the gift card program, Minnesota kids 5 to 11 who are fully vaccinated, regardless of when they completed their first and second doses, can enter to win a $100,000 college scholarship. Additional details regarding scholarship drawings will be made available in the spring of 2022. For those details and any other requestions regarding the Kids Deserve A Shot initiative, please visit the Minnesota COVID-19 Response webpage or call 1-833-431-2053. The Minnesota Department of Health encourages all parents/guardians who have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, to speak with your child(ren)’s pediatrician.
