Target offers coupons for those receiving COVID shots

Target Corp. is serving up some savings to incentivize customers and employees to get their COVID-19 vaccination.

Minneapolis-based Target said yesterday that it will give shoppers and store associates a $5 coupon after they receive a COVID vaccine at a CVS at Target pharmacy. The coupon can be used for in-store purchases of $5 or more.

CVS Health operates more than 1,700 CVS Pharmacy locations inside Target stores. The companies began providing coronavirus immunizations to CVS at Target pharmacies in March, initially rolling out shots to more than 600 locations in 17 states. To accommodate customers seeking vaccinations, Target has sectioned off space inside stores, including queue areas around fitting rooms, which are being used to administer the vaccines.

“All U.S. adults are now eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine — and now it’s even easier for you to get yours,” Target said in a blog post on Tuesday. “We’re offering vaccine appointments at nearly all CVS at Target locations. And bonus: We’re offering guests and team members a $5 Target coupon when they receive a CVS at Target-administered COVID-19 vaccination.”

Target fitting rooms have been adapted to allow CVS pharmacy staff to administer COVID shots.

Target already has provided COVID vaccine incentives to workers. In February, the company said hourly frontline employees receiving coronavirus shots will receive up to four hours of pay (two hours for each dose) and can get free Lyft rides to and from their vaccine appointments, covering up to $15 each way. Target’s Shipt same-day delivery subsidiary also launched the Vaccine Payment Program, which allows its personal shoppers to apply for up to $50 in stipends for receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Related:Target funnels $5 million toward COVID-19 vaccine access

In early April, Target announced plans to funnel $5 million to global, national and local initiatives aimed at boosting access to COVID-19 vaccines. Of that total, $2.5 million is earmarked for community groups nationwide to help fund COVID vaccination efforts in their neighborhoods. The company also is contributing $1 million to nonprofits offering access to free and discounted rides to vaccine appointments via the Lyft Universal Vaccine Access campaign. Under the program, the rideshare company and a coalition of partners provide underserved communities access to rides to and from immunization sites.

Target, too, is allocating $1 million toward the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative’s effort to educate the public and build confidence around the vaccines, especially in communities disproportionally impacted by the virus. And most recently, Target donated $500,000 to global relief organization UNICEF USA in support of its teams and their communities in India, which has continued to see a devastating surge of COVID-19 cases.

Related:Target stores get COVID-19 vaccines via CVS pharmacies

“We continue to support public vaccination efforts, like the Health Action Alliance and the Ad Council's campaign, which are focused on increasing confidence in the vaccine and reaching communities of color hit particularly hard during the pandemic,” Target stated. “We’ve also committed $5 million to help improve equitable access to vaccines for underserved communities.”