Select Health recognizes the significant stress COVID-19 continues to place on our members and our communities. As a health plan and a part of Intermountain Healthcare, we are urging people to get vaccinated to help slow the spread of the disease.

Beginning Aug. 26, 2021, Select Health members on Utah contracts who have not been previously vaccinated, who meet eligibility criteria, and who complete either one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will receive a $100 incentive. Some exceptions apply.

Extensive testing has shown that vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others against COVID-19. Vaccines help your body build immunity against viruses by teaching it to recognize pathogens that pose a threat to your health. The COVID-19 vaccine completed all the required stages of clinical trials and has been reported to be more than 90% effective at preventing the virus and helping to reduce severe illness.

“We want our communities to realize that we truly value their health. This incentive is intended to encourage completion of the COVID vaccine so that we can all live the healthiest lives possible,” said Dr. Russ Kuzel, Select Health chief medical officer.

The Delta variant’s presence in the United States increases the urgency for vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variant can cause twice as many infections and is more contagious than any previous strain of COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing severe disease and death caused by the Delta variant.

As of this week in Utah, only 55.8% of people have gotten one dose of the vaccine and 48.6% are fully vaccinated. When many people get vaccinated, it increases our community’s ability to fight against the virus, and it protects those most vulnerable in our neighborhoods who can’t be vaccinated and who are at increased risk of severe illness.

Vaccinations for COVID-19 are available at no cost. If you’re unsure if you should receive the vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider and discuss your concerns.

We support the guidance of medical professionals and encourage our members and communities to get vaccinated. Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine provider near you.