Initial Vax-a-Million drawing was Monday — four more to go
Ohio plans to announce its first $1 million cash giveaway and scholarship winners Wednesday as part of its COVID-19 incentive program to encourage residents to get the coronavirus vaccine.
The Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Lottery reported that 2,758,470 people 18 and older entered Monday’s first drawing for the $1 million prize. The drawing was conducted using a random-number generator and was observed by a representative of the Ohio state auditor’s office.
Additionally, the state said 104,386 ages 12-17 entered the drawing for a full scholarship to an Ohio university/college.
Ohioans 18 and older must have received at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson to be eligible to register for the Vax-a-Million drawings. The same rule applies for those 12 to 17, and they are eligible for the full-scholarship prize. Those unable to register online can call the Ohio Department of Health at (833) 427-5634 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to submit an entry.
As of Sunday, 5,179,064 Ohioans, or 44.31% of the state’s population, had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The health department said the vaccine campaign is working. From May 14 through May 19, compared with May 7 through May 12—the day Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Vax-a-Million—vaccinations in Ohio increased 94% among those 16 and 17 years old, 46% among those 18 and 19 years old and 55% among those between 20 and 49 years old, the department reported.
“This dramatic increase in vaccinations indicates that the Vax-a-Million drawing has been impactful in creating momentum for vaccinations throughout Ohio,” Stephanie McCloud, Ohio Department of Health director, said. “We are grateful that the drawings are helping spur Ohioans to take this important measure to protect their health, their loved ones, and their community. Vaccines are our best tool to return to the lives we remember from before the pandemic.”
Entries for the next drawing—May 31—will be accepted until 11:59:59 p.m. Sunday, May 30. You only enter once to be eligible for all subsequent drawings, scheduled for June 7, 14 and 21. Official rules can be found here.
The Ohio Department of Health is administering the drawings, with technical assistance from the Ohio Lottery Commission. Money for the prizes is coming from the state’s unspent Coronavirus Relief Funds received from the federal government.
Some have raised concerns about whether information entered online for the drawing becomes subject to public-records requests.
The Ohio Department of Health “frequently redacts records related to protected personal health information,” a spokeswoman for the department emailed Monday. “That is statutory, not dependent on drawing rules.”
The state Monday reported 919,534 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ohio, with an additional 178,332 probable cases. A total of 19,709 Ohioans have died of the disease, according to the state.
