Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that 50,000 free tickets to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee will be given out as a new incentive for residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The offer comes following yesterday’s vaccine eligibility expansion to children ages 12-15.
Six Flags Great America is donating the 50,000 free tickets, valued at $4 million, to the state to distribute, Pritzker said.
“Throughout the pandemic, Six Flags has been All In for Illinois, putting the health of workers and visitors first,” Pritzker said.
“I know it’s been a difficult year – but that just makes it all the more exciting to be back at the park. Thanks to the life-saving power of vaccinations, it feels once again like summer’s in the air,” he added.
Six Flags Great America Park President Hank Salemi said the company is proud to support Illinois’ vaccination efforts, especially in underrepresented communities.
“We’re getting back to the thrills and want to do our part to encourage residents to get vaccinated,” Salemi said.
The governor’s office said that the state is sending Illinois National Guard mobile vaccination teams to Six Flags in Gurnee on June 5 and June 6.
If turnout is high, vaccination teams will return to the park. Six Flags Great America will announce additional details in the coming weeks.
A significant portion of the tickets will also be distributed through local health departments to use.
Specific initiatives will be rolled out by the departments of public health in the city of Chicago, Cook County and the Collar Counties — including equity mobile missions in neighborhoods with lower vaccination rates, school-based clinics, full-family vaccination initiatives and mass vaccination clinics.
The Vaccine Corps Partnership incubated at Michael Reese Health Trust will also deploy the free tickets as a part of their hyper-local vaccine education campaign, the governor’s office added.
The organization works with community-led organizations to build trust in the vaccine, primarily in the city of Chicago and Cook County.