Milwaukee is making a financial offer to city residents age 12 and older who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer or Moderna, but have not gotten their second dose.
The offer is to come in for that second shot, and get a $25 U.S. Bank gift card on-site.
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said that for vaccines designed to be given out in two doses, getting that second shot is a big help to the body's disease-fighting immune system.
"That second dose really increases the immune response," Johnson said. "You get some immune response with the first dose — certainly better than nothing — but that second dose really increases to the full immune response."
Johnson said 61% of Milwaukee residents age 12 and older have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. About 56% are fully vaccinated. The Health Department said the city's new incentive is aimed at about 25,000 people who are eligible for a second shot, but have yet to move ahead with it.
The city has 1,000 gift cards available through funding provided by the state.
The offer comes amid a little bit of an easing of new COVID-19 cases this week. But Johnson she said she hopes those not fully vaccinated don't put off getting a shot.
"I hope people realize we're heading into winter. We're heading indoors. That the risk for exposure still exists. I mean, we're still at a high level of transmission," Johnson said.
![Milwaukee's Southside Health Center, at 1639 S. 23rd St.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d88588e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2328x1746+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2Fd2%2F19549d9441629ba5059e85176e06%2F20201007-083341.jpg)
Johnson said the gift cards for second doses are available at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Road, and the Southside Health Center, 1639 S 23rd Street.
Both are open Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The new Menomonee Valley COVID-19 site is located at 2401 W. St. Paul Ave. The new site offers vaccinations Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Johnson emphasized that Milwaukee individuals under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian present to receive the vaccine and incentive.
The gift card is not available for recently approved booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Friday afternoon, Mayor Tom Barrett is expected to provide an update on the Milwaukee Health Department's COVID-19 and flu efforts. Barrett's office said he will receive his flu shot on-camera at the Menomonee Valley site.