City Of Tulsa Approves $250 Incentive For Employees To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

The City of Tulsa will start paying employees $250 if they show they're fully vaccinated.

It's part of a push to protect city workers and keep more people healthy. 

Tulsa City council member Jayme Fowler said this cash incentive is a way to get more people vaccinated without mandating it and said he's hopeful to see more employees get their shot.

"We really think vaccinations are very important," said Fowler.

Fowler said it was an easy choice for the council. Members voted unanimously to offer $250 incentives to the city employees if they can show they're fully vaccinated by October 15.

"The mayor wanted to encourage vaccinations as opposed to mandatory masks," said Fowler.

The council also agreed to give any departments with above a 70 percent vaccination rate an extra $250 per person starting Nov. 1, meaning employees can get up to $500 extra.

It's a plan that has worked for the Cherokee Nation, which began offering cash to employees a few months ago.

"We developed this incentive-based program where employees receive $300 once they are fully vaccinated," said Cherokee Nation Chief of Staff Todd Enlow.

Enlow said the Cherokee Nation is now at a 73 percent vaccination rate for their 4,300 employees, up about 20 percent since they implemented the program in May.

"They want some assurance they're entering a space and receiving treatment from individuals who are protected and vaccinated," Enlow said.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said he's hopeful this will protect more people and lead to a higher vaccination rate for the city's 3,800 employees.

"It's been positive and well-received, so we didn't want to reinvent the wheel," said Fowler.

The $1.8 million funding for this new vaccine incentive program is from the American Rescue plan act.