DETROIT (WWJ) -- As the city of Detroit continues the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, residents will now be able to get paid for helping get fellow Detroiters vaccinated.
Mayor Mike Duggan announced Wednesday the city is enhancing its Good Neighbor program to include $50 pre-paid debit card reimbursement for any pre-registered individual who drives a Detroiter to get a vaccination.
The goal of the program, Duggan says, is to get more Detroiters -- particularly those without access to personal transportation -- vaccinated by offering the debit card to reimburse each registered Good Neighbor's time and expenses.
"There shouldn't be a single barrier for any Detroiter to get a vaccination, and certainly not transportation," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "We'd love to see people embrace the card as an incentive to reach out to friends and family in Detroit to let them know that if they want to get vaccinated, they can be transported by someone they know and trust."
How it works
Starting May 3, registered Good Neighbors will be able to bring up to three fellow Detroiters to a number of vaccination sites and receive the $50 credit.
Good Neighbors must first register by calling 313-230-0505. Then, they must schedule first-dose appointments for each of the Detroit residents they plan to transport. Good Neighbors are limited to three vaccine recipients per car per trip, but can make as many trips as they like if they are able to identify more Detroiters to drive to their appointment.
Once at the vaccination site, Good Neighbors will need to see Good Neighbor staff onsite to receive their $50 reimbursement for each resident for the first dose. They will need to do the same when bringing the same people back for his or her second dose.
Officials noted while there is no limit on how many trips a Good Neighbor can make, there is a limit of three vaccine recipients per trip and every person must be a Detroit resident.
Any Good Neighbor who earns more $600 or more in prepaid cards for reimbursement will be required to fill out a W9 form and file a 1099 with their 2021 tax returns.
Eligible locations
Reimbursement through the Good Neighbor program is only available at the following locations:
-- TCF Center drive-thru, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
-- Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
-- Straight Gate Church, 10100 Grand River, from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
-- Community Saturday sites (9 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Good Neighbor begins May 8)
-- Galilee Baptist Church
-- Grace Community Church
-- Kemeny Recreation Center
-- New Providence Baptist Church
-- Greater Emmanuel Church
Saturday Locations may change week to week, so consult this map for current availability: COVID-19 vaccines in your neighborhood.
In addition to announcing the revamped Good Neighbor program, Duggan also announced sites for the resumption of Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution. After the CDC paused the J&J shot due to rare blood clots found in multiple vaccine recipients, the city is now offering the one-dose vaccine at the Northwest Activities Center and Straight Gate Church, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
