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Free Krispy Kreme donuts, Budweiser beer on tap with COVID vaccine, plus laminate vaccination cards for free

The COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost to consumers and the free shots can be the start of a freebie fest.

Being vaccinated can get you free Krispy Kreme doughnuts, free Samuel Adam's beer and you can get your vaccination card laminated at Staples, Office Depot, or OfficeMax.

Some archivists and conservators warn that laminating the original card could damage it and render it useless to update the information if needed. Consider laminating a copy of your card instead or purchasing a protective case.

There's also the chance to get paid by your employer to get vaccinated. Many employers – ranging from grocery chains like Trader Joe's, Aldi and Lidl to retailers like Dollar General, Olive Garden and McDonald’s – are offering time off or extra pay.

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While there are slim pickings of deals and freebies at a national level, there are some smaller, local deals out there, including free Junior's Cheesecakes, mini cupcake-size cheesecake, at Junior's Restaurants' Downtown Brooklyn, New York, location through Memorial Day.

Organic juice shot brand, So Good So You, is giving away coupons for free juice shots as part of its "Get Your Shot, Get Our Shot Free" promotion. After getting vaccinated, go to www.freejuiceshot.com to register for a coupon.

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Some of the offers ask consumers to share vaccination selfies so be careful to not post any personal information. Many of the promotions are clear that they don't want vaccination cards and some prefer stickers.

The Better Business Bureau is urging consumers to avoid posting photos of their COVID-19 vaccine cards on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

"Unfortunately, your card has your full name and birthday on it, as well as information about where you got your vaccine," the BBB warns.

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Through May 31, anyone who shows proof of a vaccine gets a free dessert-on-a-stick at all locations nationwide.

Free Budweiser beer

Budweiser is the latest brand to raise awareness for the COVID-19 vaccines by offering free beer to those who get vaccinated.

Now through May 16, or while supplies last, U.S. residents 21 and older can enter the "Reunite with Buds" giveaway at ABeerOnBud.com with proof of vaccination.

However, there are a couple of caveats. Alabama, California and Texas residents are excluded from signing up, according to the fine print. Also, to enter for a chance to win a $5 virtual debit card that can be used to purchase one Budweiser beer, you need to be a new or existing My Cooler Rewards member.

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Debbie Nelson, a Denver-area resident, celebrated getting the first dose of her COVID-19 vaccine by showing her vaccination card at Krispy Kreme to receive a free donut.
Debbie Nelson, a Denver-area resident, celebrated getting the first dose of her COVID-19 vaccine by showing her vaccination card at Krispy Kreme to receive a free donut.

Krispy Kreme free doughnuts

Customers can get a free glazed doughnut every day through the end of 2021 at Krispy Kreme with a valid COVID-19 vaccination card.

The freebie 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,” Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer, told USA TODAY. No purchase is necessary but consumers need to show the vaccination card.

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The free doughnut promotion has been met with some backlash.

Some critics cited the health effects of eating a doughnut daily, especially during a pandemic that’s harder on the obese. Others said the offer discriminates against people who don’t want the vaccine. Krispy Kreme also has other offers that don't require proof of vaccination.

Staples, Office Depot laminate vaccination cards for free

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends taking a picture of your card after you're fully vaccinated, as a backup copy.

Office Depot and OfficeMax will make a copy of completed vaccination cards and then laminate the copy through July 25 with coupon code 52516714 (See coupon here). Staples is offering the same deal through May 1 with coupon code 81450.

But should you? There's been no official guidance on lamination from the CDC. There's a possibility COVID-19 vaccines may require booster shots, which would be impossible to add to a laminated card and some cards, especially ones with stickers, could be damaged if laminated.

A better idea might be to laminate a copy of the card.

Free Sam Adams' beer

Get a COVID-19 shot and get a free Samuel Adams beer.

The beer brand released a new national TV spot “Your Cousin From Boston Gets Vaccinated” last week "to help combat skepticism amongst drinkers with humor" and announced the #ShotForSam vaccine incentive program, which began Monday.

The free beer for COVID-19 vaccines is for the first 10,000 drinkers who "share evidence of their vaccination on social media" by May 15 or while supplies last.

A vaccine card or medical information is not required and the beer brand suggests showing an "I'm vaccinated" sticker or bandage photo with the hashtag #ShotForSam on Instagram or Twitter for a chance to receive $7 cash through the Cash App to cover a Sam Adams of their choice from their favorite local bar or restaurant.

Winners will receive direct messages, the beer brand says. Learn more at www.samueladams.com/shotforsam and see terms and conditions here.

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Get free cash through Drop app

Share that you’ve been vaccinated on Instagram using #DropCOVID, and the Drop rewards platform will give you up to $50 in points that can be redeemed for gift cards at merchants including Uber, DoorDash, Sephora and Amazon.

The first 10,000 participants get $50 and the next 10,000 get $20 in rewards, which are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. No additional rewards will be awarded after 20,000 codes have been redeemed.

A qualifying Instagram post needs to be posted on a public profile, include the hashtag #DropCOVID, tag @JoinDrop and include a GeoTag of your location.

A qualifying selfie must include either you getting the COVID-19 vaccine administered or you with a "Just got my COVID-19 vaccine" sticker. Drop says don't "post a picture of your official vaccination card with your selfie for privacy reasons."

Learn more at www.joindrop.com/drop-covid.

Discounted baseball tickets

The Cincinnati Reds are offering $10 discounted tickets to all fans who show COVID-19 vaccination cards with at least one shot completed. The deal is part of the Cincinnati region's Get Out the Vax campaign, which has a goal of getting 80% of the area's adults inoculated by July 4.

The offer is valid at the ticket windows at Great American Ball Park only for Monday-Thursday home games in April and May. A maximum of six tickets can be purchased with each vaccine card shown for $10 each. All tickets and games are subject to availability.

According to MLB.com, it is believed that the Reds are the first team to offer a vaccination incentive. Learn more at www.reds.com/vaccine.

More deals

Businesses with additional offers can submit details to USA TODAY on this Google Form to be considered in future updates.

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Contributing: Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY; C. A. Bridges, Palm Beach Post; Briana Rice, Cincinnati Enquirer; Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID vaccine freebies near me: Free Sam Adams' beer, donuts and money