Over 2,500 vaccinated at DeKalb event offering $100 gift cards

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Organizers of a vaccine event in DeKalb County let the event go on an extra two hours Saturday to accommodate hundreds of people who showed up.

A total of 2,526 people got their vaccines at the event at Stonecrest Mall.

At least 300 cars were lined up by 7 a.m. for DeKalb County’s latest incentivized vaccine event, which offered $100 gift cards for COVID-19 shots. The event was scheduled to end at 1 p.m., but organizers did not close the line until around 3 p.m.

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In addition to gift cards, the county gave out school uniforms, provided COVID-19 testing and meet-and-greets with former Hawks players.

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Hawks legendy Dikembe Mutombo posed with DeKalb County officers on Saturday morning.

“This about saving lives,” Mutombo said. “We want to keep our community strong. We can beat COVID-19.”

Mutumbo posed for photos, signed autographs and thanked people for lining up to get their vaccines. The event also featured guest appearances by renowned gospel singer Dottie Peoples and radio host Larry Tinsley.

“The Atlanta Hawks and DeKalb County Government are running a full-court press against the deadly COVID-19 virus,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said.

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This is the second vaccination event in DeKalb County to offer $100 gift cards. Over 1,000 people in the county were vaccinated at a similar event at The Gallery of South DeKalb earlier this month. The total number of shots administered was 1,158.

“DeKalb County has developed a blueprint for success in the fight against COVID-19,” Thurmond said about the success of the previous event. “We had the right message, respected messengers, a convenient location and an attractive incentive.”

At least 406,359 people (53.3%) in DeKalb County have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 46.7% of the county is fully vaccinated.

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