Austin Will Offer Free ACL Music Festival Wristbands For Covid Vaccine Signups - Forbes

Topline

Austin residents will have a shot at a free one-day pass to the sold-out Austin City Limits Music Festival, one of the country’s largest music festivals, if they sign up to get their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine this week, as officials double down on vaccination drives amid a concerning spike in new infections and hospitalizations across Texas.

Key Facts

ACL announced Wednesday organizers have set aside day passes for the festival’s first weekend to be distributed among the first 1,000 people to register and receive a coronavirus vaccine Friday at Q2 Stadium, the home of Austin’s new soccer team, Austin FC.

One-day passes for the festival’s first weekend, slated for October 1 through October 3, usually cost between $125 and $550 depending on the ticket tier, though the wristbands are listed as sold out on the ACL website.

The artists winners will be able to see live with their free passes include George Strait, Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and Phoebe Bridgers.

Last week, ACL announced it would require all attendees to provide proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test in order to enter the festival grounds in downtown Austin’s Zilker Park.

Tangent

Officials have offered a myriad of incentives to convince people to get vaccinated against coronavirus. In Houston, vaccine demand surged after Harris County began offering $100 to people who received the first coronavirus dose. County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the area’s vaccine rate increased sixfold in just a matter of days, making it one of the most successful vaccine incentive drives so far. Other prizes to have been offered to unvaccinated Americans in exchange for getting a jab include university tuition credit, Super Bowl tickets and free meals at Shake Shack. 

Key Background

Texas is experiencing a surge in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. New infections began increasing sharply early last month, and hospitals across the state have reported being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, the vast majority of which are unvaccinated. If hospital intensive care units continue to be overwhelmed, hospitals in North Texas have floated the idea of using vaccination status to prioritize which patients receive care first.

Adblock test (Why?)

Austin Will Offer Free ACL Music Festival Wristbands For Covid Vaccine Signups - Forbes
Read More