The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Carroll campus as well as the Perry VanKirk center have each received Campus COVID-19 Vaccination and Mitigation (CoVAC) mini grants. The $3,000 awards are to be used to promote increased COVID vaccinations among DMACC Carroll and Perry students. The American College Health Association initiative is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a goal of supporting healthy and thriving campus communities. The grants have covered the cost of the placement of claw machines at the campuses. Students who present proof of vaccination will receive tokens to play on the machine, which uses a crane that operators drop down to try to grab onto then move the prize of their choice to the starting position. Items in the claw machines include Beats By Dre earbuds, $50 Amazon gift cards, Apple Playcards and coupons to various local businesses and restaurants. Their hope is this incentive will result in at least 50 more vaccinated students at each location.
