Ohio’s “Vax-A-Million Drawing,” set to start next week, has caught people’s attention and is already paying off with increased vaccinations.
That’s according to Gov. Mike DeWine, who said Monday that he’s seen the give-away get media coverage nationwide and vaccination numbers begin to trend upward in Ohio.
“We’re getting anecdotal reports back from health departments that we are seeing an increase. We had been seeing a downturn with fewer and fewer people being vaccinated. It appears at least that we have bottomed out on that. And there is certainly an indication that we are seeing an increase,” DeWine said.
The drawings will be conducted by the Ohio Lottery.
People hoping to be chosen to win the $1 million prizes from the state must register at the web site “OhioVaxAMillion.com” when it opens on Tuesday at 8 am.
The first drawing will be conducted next Monday and the Ohio Department of Health will have 48 hours to determine if the person whose name is picked is eligible for the prize money.
The winner must be:
- At least 18 years old.
- A permanent Ohio resident
- Had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine prior to the Sunday 11:59 deadline before the drawing.
- Is willing to have their name announced on statewide TV
One winner will be selected, with five back-up names also selected each week.
If for some reason the winner does not qualify for the prize, the money goes to the back-up winner.
The drawings will go on for the next five weeks.
A similar drawing will be held each week to select the name of a student, age 12-17, to receive a full scholarship to a state university if they are vaccinated.
DeWine said Monday his hope was to encourage people to be vaccinated if they had not received the shot yet.
“Two things you need to do. One thing is get vaccinated. The other is go on line and register, or by telephone register to get into the system. Once you’re in, you’re in. You do not have to re-register every week,” DeWine said.
The telephone number to register for the drawing is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
Cox Media Group
