Long Beach City College students may receive a $300 credit to the campus bookstores in return for getting a COVID-19 vaccine, the college announced Tuesday.
To increase the percentage of students on campus who are vaccinated, the school is using $1 million in federal Higher Education Emergency Relief funds that Congress has allocated to aid students and institutions during the pandemic.
The $300 vouchers would be good for use at either the Pacific Coast Campus or the Liberal Arts Campus bookstores. Students receiving both doses of a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine between Aug. 2 and Aug. 30 are eligible.
Vouchers will be distributed similar to financial aid, the college said in a news release.
A spokesperson for the college said LBCC is willing to spend all of those funds to get more people being vaccinated. The $1 million pledged by the school could provide over 3,300 students with vouchers.
“The average age of our Long Beach City College students happens to be within the same age range that the Delta variant is affecting the unvaccinated,” said Long Beach Community College District Interim Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz. “Because of this fact, we need to do our very best to encourage vaccines to keep our entire student body and College family safe.”
LBCC joined the Cal State University system and the city in announcing vaccine mandates last week, which will require proof of vaccination for all students, faculty and staff who return to campus for the upcoming fall semester.
A spokesperson said it’s yet to be determined how frequently students and faculty would be tested but added that students who choose to take online classes will not be required to show proof of vaccination or undergo testing.
Those who do not provide proof of vaccination will be subject to regular testing, according to the college.
Both of the college’s campuses have served as testing sites throughout the pandemic and the Pacific Coast Campus is currently one of the city’s fixed vaccine sites. The vaccine clinic is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Long Beach will require proof of vaccination or regular testing for city workers