West Virginia Bribes Residents To Get COVID-19 Vaccine With Guns, Lotteries, Scholarships, More

Residents in West Virginia who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine now have the opportunity to win an array of prizes if they roll up their sleeves and get the shot.

On Tuesday, Governor Jim Justice revealed people who receive the COVID-19 vaccine can be enrolled in a chance to win a variety of prizes, including hunting rifles, custom outfitted trucks, college school scholarships, and a $1.588 million grand prize.

However, the perks of getting the vaccine won’t end there. The state also plans on offering a second prize amount of $588,000, as well as lifetime fishing and hunting licenses, weekend vacations to state parks, and more.

Those who are already fully vaccinated will need to register in order to be entered to win one of the newly announced prizes.

The new vaccine incentive program has been established to encourage locals to get the vaccine while trying their luck at winning a unique prize.

“The faster we get people across the finish line the more lives we save. That’s all there is to it,” Justice said. “If the tab just keeps running the cost is enormous. The hospitalizations are enormous. We have to get all of our folks across the finish line.”

The new vaccine incentive program will run from June 20 until Aug. 4, and will be funded using federal pandemic relief aid. The drawing for the first prize will take place on Father’s Day and will be for the $1 million prize.

According to a state report, 51.1% of the West Virginia population has already been vaccinated. “Our active cases are 4,550 cases in West Virginia. That’s the lowest it has been since October 27, 2020,” Justice said in a statement.

So far, 75% of people ages 50 and older in West Virginia have been vaccinated, as well as 84% of residents ages 65 and older.