HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Governor Ned Lamont announced Friday the “Rock the Shot” promotional campaign to encourage Connecticut residents to get COVID-19 vaccines.
The program will give away pairs of tickets to concerts happening at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford and the newly completed Hartford Healthcare amphitheater in Bridgeport this summer and fall. The new Bridgeport space is set to open in July.
In order to get your tickets, here are some requirements:
- Anyone 18 and older who has received at least one vaccine shot can enter an online drawing for a pair of premium seats to one of several concerts by some of today’s top artists in pop, country, and hip-hop. Drawings will be held weekly on Thursdays in July, starting on July 8. Winners will be contacted once their vaccination status is verified.
- Be one of the first 24 people to get vaccinated at select clinics – to be announced – to receive a pair of tickets to one of the concerts.
Mwiche, 23, got the COVID-19 vaccine. But she has friends who haven’t. She talked to News 8 following the governor’s announcement, saying, “A lot of hesitancy and lot of fear of the unknown…I was hearing a lot of misinformation like ‘it’s got COVID in it’ or ‘I’m young I don’t need to get vaccinated.'”
Nearly 600,000 people under the age of 34 in our state have skipped the shot. Health officials are now trying to reach them with this new “Rock the Shot” campaign.
Chaz of 99.1 PLR spoke at the announcement event Friday, “I think we all know if you’re not going to get a vaccine a pair of concert tickets won’t get you there. But if you’re in that group, you know, ‘my friends aren’t sick’ or ‘I was going to do it but the numbers got good,’ here’s a deal for you.”
Gov. Lamont: “We’re going to get you the best seats in the house because you deserve it. The best seats in the house.”
Experts say there’s a lot on the line.
Patrick Charmel of Griffin Health explained, “The outbreaks that we’ve seen in the Midwest and Canada and Europe have started in that population.” The population of those not vaccinated.
Another driver in the effort to vaccinate – colleges and universities now moving to mandate vaccines for returning students.
Mwiche says she sees another path too.
“One thing that has worked for my friends: parents encourage them to get it, like ‘you’re not going on vacation with us if you’re not vaccinated.'”
She thinks incentives like the one unveiled Friday are a step in the right direction, too.
Keep in mind, there’s only a certain number of tickets available. You can enter online or go to certain clinics.
The list of concerts currently available through “Rock the Shot” include:
Xfinity Theatre – Hartford
- 7/16 – Luke Bryan
- 8/21 – Thomas Rhett
- 9/3 – Lil Baby
- 9/29 – Jonas Brothers
- 10/8 – Florida Georgia Line
HHC Amphitheater – Bridgeport
- 8/20 – Brothers Osborne
- 9/8 – Trippie Redd
- 9/29 – NF
- 10/1 – Rod Wave
To fill out an entry form for tickets, Connecticut residents who have been vaccinated should visit ct.gov/rocktheshot. More concerts will be added in the future.
