NW Georgia News

Georgia Institute of Technology issued the following announcement on August 29.

Georgia Tech is introducing new rewards to encourage individuals on campus to get vaccinated and test weekly.

Free t-shirts and local restaurant discounts are popping up at Tech's Covid-19 asymptomatic surveillance testing sites on campus, thanks to help from volunteers like Allison Vermaak, joint vice president of Sustainability and Infrastructure for Undergraduate SGA.

Georgia Tech continues to take a multipronged approach to preventing and mitigating the risk of coronavirus as more students, faculty, and staff return to campus this fall. Without question, the vaccine offers the best defense against the pandemic, and, if you have not done so, we urge you to consult with a medical professional and consider getting vaccinated now. Doing so at Tech is easy and free.

Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate each week in our free asymptomatic surveillance testing program, even if you have been fully vaccinated. We especially urge those who have not yet been vaccinated to get tested weekly. Find campus testing sites and locations.

Beginning today, Georgia Tech is introducing new rewards to encourage individuals to get vaccinated and test weekly:

• All students, faculty, and staff who get vaccinated at Stamps Health Services or participate in our campus surveillance testing program between now and end of day September 30, 2021, will be entered into a drawing to receive a $50 Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech gift card. 350 individuals will be randomly selected the following week to each receive a gift card.
• Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff vaccinated on campus between now and end of day September 10, 2021, will also receive a $20 Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech gift card.
• Through September 10, more than 1,000 $5 coupons for local restaurants, 350 limited edition Georgia Tech Athletics t-shirts, and several helmets and footballs signed by Coach Geoff Collins will also be distributed at random to campus test sites and vaccine clinics.
• Cookie drops continue at test sites, along with stickers at test sites and vaccine clinics.

If you are unvaccinated, you are at risk of contracting Covid-19 and infecting others, with potentially severe consequences for you or someone else. Please seek medical advice from your healthcare provider or a member of our Stamps Health Services team, led by Dr. Ben Holton, if you have doubts or concerns about getting vaccinated.

Like you, we want this academic year to be as safe as possible. The best way to achieve that outcome is for every member of the campus community to get vaccinated and continue to test weekly.

Mihir Kandarpa, vice president of Well-being for Undergrduate SGA (left) shares GT Athletics t-shirts and local restaurant discount cards with those participating in weekly asymptomatic surveillance testing at Georgia Tech.

Vaccine clinic volunteer Claire, a third-year student studying biochemistry, holds one of the GT Athletics t-shirts handed out at a recent campus clinic. This month, all students, faculty, and staff who get vaccinated or participate in Covid-19 testing will be eligible for drawings and surprise giveaways of GT Athletics t-shirts and memorabilia, Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech gift cards, and discount cards for Waffle House, Rusty Taco, and other local businesses.

Ms. Keresa, a staff member with Georgia Tech's Covid-19 campus vaccine clinic, holds one of the GT Athletics t-shirts and Waffle House discount cards handed out at a recent campus clinic.

Georgia Tech Athletics t-shirts, local restaurant discounts, and gift cards are among the rewards you could receive through surprise swag drops and random drawings this month for those who get vaccinated on campus or who participate in weekly asymptomatic surveillance testing at Tech.

Original source can be found here.