Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts to people who are vaccinated — every day this year

As COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue across the United States, Krispy Kreme is providing a sweet incentive to encourage more people to roll up their sleeves for the shot. The iconic doughnut shop announced this week that it is giving away free doughnuts to anyone with proof of vaccination every day through the end of 2021. Starting Monday, any customer who shows a valid COVID-19 vaccination card at participating locations nationwide will receive a free Original Glazed doughnut. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based chain specifies on its website that only customers who have received at least one of the two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine qualify for the promotion.

"A COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card needs to be provided to receive the offer. A sticker stating the guest has received a COVID-19 vaccine does not qualify them for this offer," the website explains. Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer, told USA Today that the promotion is valid at all 369 Krispy Kreme shops located in 41 states and available "anytime, any day, every day for the rest of the year." No purchase is necessary to obtain the freebie.

The COVID-19 vaccine promotion is not a one-time offer as vaccinated individuals can go back every single day and continue getting free doughnuts through all of 2021. In a press release Monday, Krispy Kreme also revealed that it also plans to "support health care workers and volunteers who are helping administer vaccines" by "delivering free doughnuts to select vaccination centers throughout the country in the coming weeks." Furthermore, to encourage company safety, the doughnut chain is also giving its employees up to four hours of paid time off to get the vaccine. 

Krispy Kreme isn't the only company to have implemented such a provision as a number of businesses — including retailers such as Best Buy, Target, and Trader Joe's — have been providing paid time off to employees who get vaccinated. However, it does appear to be the first national chain to provide consumers with an incentive to obtain their COVID-19 vaccinations. "We all want to get COVID-19 behind us as fast as possible and we want to support everyone doing their part to make the country safe by getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them," Skena said in a statement. 

Skena explained that the company has a very good reason for running this promotion throughout the year. Since not everyone is eligible to get the vaccine yet, Krispy Kreme wants people to have a chance to take advantage of its offer whenever they do receive the shot. Fortunately, Americans will not have to wait for long as President Joe Biden has directed states to make all adults eligible to receive vaccines no later than May 1. "We wanted it to be big enough to sort of catch people's attention and spread awareness," Skena said. "I think anything anyone can do to help show support for those getting the vaccine is a good thing right now and so we're just trying to do what little we can."

He added that he hopes other companies will also launch vaccine-related promotions. While a few smaller businesses are giving similar offers with proof of vaccination, Skena said that he is yet to hear of any other big company doing so. "We may be the first, but I really hope we aren't the last," he said. "We should all do what we can to support folks getting this country past COVID."