Uber to offer free, discounted rides for people getting coronavirus vaccinations

Uber has announced that it will begin offering free and discounted rides to people who are getting coronavirus vaccinations.

The ride-hailing company is set to offer 10 million free or discounted rides, including transportation to and from a destination, for customers who are going to get their vaccine. The offer will also be valid for a second trip to receive the second dose, according to a press release.

“We hope our technology can help make the largest-ever global immunization campaign a success and deliver the benefits of the vaccine quickly, effectively and equitably,” Uber said in a statement.

Uber will partner with National Urban League, the Morehouse School of Medicine and the National Action Network, in an effort to aid communities of color that have faced disproportionate effects of the pandemic.

“The Covid pandemic has hit Black Americans the hardest, with a disproportionate share of cases, deaths and economic hardship,” the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, said of the partnership. “We also know that communities of color have less reliable access to transportation, presenting another barrier to getting vaccinated. We’re looking forward to working with Uber to knock that barrier down.”

Uber has not yet said when it will begin offering the free rides.

In March, the company offered 10 million free rides and deliveries to health care workers across the U.S., according to USA Today.