East TN counties respond after President Biden calls on local leaders to offer $100 COVID-19 vaccine incentives from federal aid The President said the federally-funded financial incentives will motivate people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as new cases and hospitalizations rise again. Author: Chris Salvemini, Tom Barclay, WBIR Staff Published: 8:15 PM EDT July 29, 2021 Updated: 8:35 PM EDT July 29, 2021 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Thursday, President Joe Biden's administration called on states to take advantage of federal relief money to motivate people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as new vaccination rates lag throughout the U.S. Biden called for states, territories and local governments to do more to incentivize vaccinations amid a new surge in cases and hospitalizations in unvaccinated people, calling on leaders to take advantage of federal relief funding to offer $100 to anyone who gets vaccinated.