Get A COVID Shot, Get Free Rita's Italian Ice In Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — In an effort to get more residents vaccinated, Bucks County commissioners have formed a partnership with Rita's Italian Ice to offer a voucher for a Rita's treat to anyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine.

County commissioners announced the $30,000 partnership during a press conference outside the Neshaminy Mall on Thursday, which was funded primarily through donations from the Rita's shop in Bensalem, officials said. The initiative is part of the county's efforts to get more people vaccinated.

“Now there is no excuse for not getting your COVID vaccine,” Commissioners’ Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia said at a news conference outside the mall, where one of the county’s five mass vaccination sites is located. “We are so honored to be able to partner with Rita’s and offer everyone who comes in to get a vaccine a free Rita’s coupon.”

More than 222,000 people have been fully vaccinated in Bucks County, and more than 313,000 people have received at least a first dose of vaccine — equivalent to roughly 60 percent of the vaccine-eligible Bucks County population.

“We are above the average in terms of people getting first shots, we are above the average in terms of vaccinated adults here,” said Commissioner Bob Harvie. “And over the past few weeks we’ve seen a lot of teenagers coming in, once they were cleared to get the Pfizer vaccine.”

Increasing vaccination rates are contributing to sharply declining COVID cases over the past month, according to county health officials. At the same time, demand for the vaccine has dropped off sharply, prompting county officials to come up with creative ways to get more people vaccinated.

“We want to get as many people vaccinated as possible,” Bucks County Public Health Director David Damsker said. “We know the vaccine is effective,” citing the fact that virtually everyone who has been hospitalized or died from COVID in Bucks recently has been an unvaccinated person.

“Anything we can do to get people in here is a good idea,” he added.

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