Uber and Lyft to Give Free Rides to COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
If you or someone you know still needs to be vaccinated, this could help get you to where you need to go.
Ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber will start giving free rides to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites by May 24.
The initiative was announced this week as part of the Biden's administrations efforts to make the COVID-19 more accessible.
According to a May 11 press release from the White House,
As part of this historic commitment, Lyft and Uber will promote rides to and from tens of thousands of vaccination sites through their apps. People will be able to simply select a vaccination site near them, follow simple directions to redeem their ride, and then get a ride to take them to and from a nearby vaccination site free of charge. The feature will launch in the next two weeks and run until July 4. By helping Americans get a free ride to a vaccination site, Lyft and Uber are eliminating a potential barrier and driving America closer to the President’s goal of getting 70% of the U.S. adult population with at least one shot by July 4th.
Lyft says riders will be able to get a ride code directly through their app or website. Ride codes will cover $15 each way, which the company says they expect to cover "most, if not all, of riders’ fares." Ride codes can be used for Lyft rideshare, bike or scooter rides during standard pharmacy operating hours (6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.).
John Zimmer, co-founder and president of Lyft, said in a release,
The vaccine is the key to getting us all moving again, and we’re proud to do our part to move the country forward. We’ve always believed transportation has the power to improve people's lives, and this initiative makes that truer than ever. We’re grateful to the Biden Administration for prioritizing access.
Uber has yet to release details on their plan, however, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement,
“Vaccines are our best hope to beat this pandemic and soon everyone in America will be able to take a free Uber to get their shot. We are honored to deepen our previous global commitments, and partner with the White House and Lyft to provide free rides to vaccination sites across the US. This is a proud moment for me, for Uber, and for our country. More and more Americans continue to get vaccinated every day — let’s keep moving forward, together.”
The Biden administration also announced a partnership to open vaccination clinics at community colleges for students, staff, and local residents.
Here are some tips for self-care during the pandemic:
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