Want a free drink? Consider getting vaccinated

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announce a community pop-up vaccine POD in partnership with Northwell Health and Tiki Joes.

The POD will be at Smith Point Beach on Friday, May 21 from 5 to 8 P.M. and public health officials will be administering the one-shot Johnson and Johnson Vaccine.

The goal is to vaccinate approximately 100 residents. Appointments are not required and anyone 21 and older who gets vaccinated at the POD will receive one free drink from Tiki Joes, located right on the beach.

“Summer is almost here, and we all want to be able to enjoy our favorite warm weather activities safely,” Bellone said in a press release. “Friday’s POD at Tiki Joes is the County’s latest effort to make getting vaccinated as easy and convenient as possible, with the added incentive of a free drink to enjoy on the beach.”

“We are seeing in real time that vaccination is working,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of Health Services. “Last year, we had to lock down in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. This year, we have seen the numbers drop drastically in the past few weeks and we can attribute that to immunization. As of today, nearly 65% of the population ages 18 and above has received at least one dose of the vaccine.”

To date, more than 771,000 county residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition to PODs, the County has provided free transportation to Suffolk vaccine PODs for seniors, veterans and anyone who is driving impaired. The County has also been providing free drinks at select establishments for anyone 21 and over who is vaccinated during May at a County vaccine site, and committing a $200,000 investment to launch Phase 2 of the County’s “Take Your Shot’ educational campaign.

For more information on the County’s vaccine efforts, visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov/vaccine.