Free beer may be the key to vaccinating Charlotte’s 20-somethings

How? At a brewery, of course. Welcome to Charlotte.

The big picture: Vaccine supply is starting to outweigh demand in Mecklenburg, and so public health officials are looking for creative ways to get shots in arms with pop-up clinics at local breweries like NoDa, Brewers at 4001 Yancey and Town.

Why it matters: Vaccines are the key to ending the pandemic.

• The state is aiming to vaccinate two-thirds of the population before lifting the mask mandate, Gov. Cooper announced Wednesday.

If a vaccine clinic is easy to access, and available for walk-ins, “there’s a greater chance that we’re going to get, especially some of our younger population, vaccinated,” county health director Gibbie Harris said during a Wednesday afternoon briefing.

How it works: Remember the popular fitness series Work for Your Beer? It’s like that, but for shots … of Moderna or Pfizer. Welcome to the new definition of hot girl summer: Shot Girl Summer.

• The brewery vaccine clinics don’t require appointments and are meant to make the vaccination process as easy and convent as possible.
• If you’re already out on a Saturday drinking your hazy IPA, why not get a shot while you’re at it?

Save the date: No appointment is necessary for these events. Just show up!

• At Town Brewing: StarMed will offer first doses this Sunday, April 15 from 12-6pm. People who get vaccinated will get a voucher for one free beer. Expect this partnership to continue for future weekends.
• At NoDa Brewing: Atrium Health is administering vaccinations at NoDa’s North Tryon taproom today, Thursday, April 22, starting at 6:30pm. Free beer! Details.
• At Brewers at 4001 Yancey: They administered 150 Pfizers on Wednesday and will be back on May 12 for those who need their second dose. Details.
• And check out this guide for all the open walk-in vaccine clinics around Charlotte.

Related Axios guide: Complete list and map of Charlotte’s 30+ local breweries, plus the most popular beer at each