Panera Bread is joining the list of restaurants offering incentives to vaccinated customers.
The fast casual will give one free bagel every day from July 2 to July 4 to anyone vaccinated against COVID-19, the chain announced Wednesday.
Customers can choose any flavor of bagel, but spreads are not included.
Panera said it is supporting efforts by the White House to vaccinate 70% of the eligible population by July 4.
“During the past year, we have focused on uniting and serving our entire Panera family; our guests, associates and communities,” Panera CEO Niren Chaudhary said in a statement. “We have come through one of our nation’s greatest crises by supporting one another, and now, together, we can all take a simple act that will help our communities overcome this pandemic.”
As soon as the vaccine became widely available in the U.S. in the early spring, restaurants began offering promotional incentives.
Krispy Kreme was one of the first, promising a free glazed doughnut every day of 2021 for vaccinated customers.
Nathan’s Famous gave out free hot dogs at its Coney Island location to anyone who got vaccinated that day. A Chicago bar, Village Tap, handed out $10 gift cards to anyone who could present proof of getting the shot.
State governments have also tried boosting vaccine rates with lotteries and other incentives.
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