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Customers who have booked a vaccine appointment can request a
ride through the Uber app and either incur no charges if the
trip costs less than $25, or receive a $25 discount for their
journey, the company said.
Drivers will receive the full payment for the trip, Uber said.
With two of the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United
States requiring two separate shots, Uber would pay a maximum of
$100 per passenger under the program. A company spokesman said
Uber does not have an estimate for the number of vaccine rides
it expects to provide.
U.S. President Joe Biden two weeks ago announced the partnership
with Uber and its rival Lyft Inc in an effort to boost COVID-19
vaccination rates at a time when U.S. demand for vaccines has
declined.
Many states are offering incentives, from free food and drinks
to a chance at winning a lottery, in order to get more Americans
to roll up their sleeves for a COVID-19 shot.
Biden has set a target of getting 70% of U.S. adults inoculated
by July 4 so the country can be safely reopened for celebrations
and small Independence Day holiday gatherings. As of Thursday,
48% of Americans have received at least one vaccine dose,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
For Uber and Lyft, the vaccine efforts also come as the
companies seek to have drivers and riders return to the road and
recover revenue lost during the pandemic.
Lyft has said customers booking a vaccine ride will receive a
$15 discount per trip.
The nationwide rides discounts build on existing vaccination
programs Uber and Lyft launched at the end of last year to
assist vulnerable communities lacking healthcare and
transportation access.
(Reporting by Tina Bellon; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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