Anti-Vaxxer Offers Giveaway To Those That Turndown COVID Shots

While several companies are offering a range of perks for people that have received their COVID vaccine, one business sees it the other way and is supporting those that don’t get the shot.

Gym co-owner Ian Smith announced on Twitter that he is offering anyone that doesn’t get the COVID vaccine a free gym membership at The Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey.

Smith said in his tweet that the reason for the anti-vaccine stance was because, “We believe in health - the real way - exercise, good diet, plenty of Vitamin D, Zinc, and an environment to destress.”

Smith’s comments come as doughnut chain Krispy Kreme would give away free doughnuts to those who have been vaccinated throughout 2021. Other companies have followed Krispy Kreme's lead, offering perks such as discounted meals, free rides to vaccination sites, free lamination of vaccine cards, as well as free marijuana from a dispensary in Michigan.

This is not the first time that Smith’s viewpoint has clashed with health officials. The gym was fined more than $130,000 in 2020 for defying nonessential business closure orders during the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the COVID vaccine is safe, saying that severe allergic reactions are “rare.” The Food and Drug Administration has also found no safety issues surrounding the vaccine other than mild side effects.

Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID vaccine have shown to be up to 95% effective against the virus, while Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has up to 66% efficacy against COVID-19.

To date, the CDC has reported that over 46.3 million people have been fully vaccinated with the COVID vaccine, accounting for 14% of the population.

However, several Twitter users backed Smith’s offer with one fan saying, “Thank you for standing up” and “Man, I love you guys.”

But not all the comments were positive. Many Twitter users condemned the gym owner.

“I hope your gym goes out of business,” one Twitter used posted, while another posted, “I would never go to a gym that's pro-disease.”

New Jersey reports the third-highest positivity rate in the nation for COVID-19, with hospitalizations topping 2,000 for the first time in a month.

The state has reported over 11 million positive coronavirus cases and over 24,300 COVID-19 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.