California’s $116 Million COVID Vaccine Giveaway And 2 Other States Offering $1 Million For A Shot

As part of an incentive to get more Californians vaccinated, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a Vax for the Win program that would raffle off $116 million in prizes in June.

A total of 30 vaccinated people will be selected to win $50,000 in cash on June 4 and June 11, and 10 residents, who have had their COVID shot, will have the chance to win $1.5 million on June 15.

Those individuals under the age of 18 will have the money put in a savings account for them until they turn of age if they win.

Two million people will also receive a $50 prepaid card or a Kroger grocery card for a total of $100 million.

More than 2.8% of eligible California residents aged 12 and older are partially vaccinated, but an estimated 12 million eligible people in the state still have not gotten a shot.

Newsom hopes the $116 million in prizes will give an extra nudge to those that are hesitant to get their COVID shot as the state looks to reopen on June 15, especially those in hard-to-reach communities.

“Getting every eligible Californian vaccinated is how we bring our state roaring back from this pandemic,” Newsom said. “California has already made incredible progress in the fight against COVID-19, with the lowest case rates in the country, while administering millions more vaccines than any other state.

“ But we aren’t stopping there, we’re doing everything it takes to get Californians vaccinated as we approach June 15 to help us fully reopen safely,” he added.

California isn’t the only state that has offered up millions of dollars in giveaways in hopes of enticing residents to get vaccinated.

In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Vax-a-Million promotion, which is giving away a weekly prize of $1 million to residents that have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Five weekly drawings will be pulled from Ohioans that have received at least one dose of the COVID shot.

Eligible entrants for the $1 million vaccine giveaway must be 18 or older. The first winner of the drawing was pulled on May 26 and was revealed to be 22-year-old Abbigail Bugenske.

Colorado also announced a $1 million incentive to get the COVID shot, when Gov. Jared Polis issued the state’s Comeback Cash Vaccine Drawing that will give away $1 million over the course of five weeks to five people that have had their COVID shot.

To enter the drawing and win, Coloradoans need to be vaccinated by June 30 with at least one dose of the vaccine. They must also be at least 18 years of age.

“Isn’t it wonderful to be giving out $1 million prizes along with protection against the Coronavirus!,” Polis, said in a statement. “I hope this exciting public health initiative encourages even more Coloradans to get vaccinated now, and for those who have already taken this important step, you’re already eligible to win the big prize. This isn’t just about the money, but about getting more Coloradans the protection they need from this deadly virus so we can put this pandemic behind us and power the Colorado comeback.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 132.7 million people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, accounting for 40% of the U.S. population.