Ohio plans to give away $5 million, sourced from federal coronavirus relief funds, for a COVID-19 vaccine lottery contest, Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Wednesday.
Starting in two weeks, on every Wednesday for five weeks, the state will give away $1 million dollars to one resident who received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, the Republican said in a speech.
YANKEES AND METS OFFER FREE TICKETS IN RETURN FOR GETTING COVID-19 VACCINE
“The Ohio Department of Health will be the sponsoring agency for the drawings, and the Ohio Lottery will conduct them,” DeWine said. “The money will come from existing federal Coronavirus Relief Funds.”
The governor specified participants must be at least 18 years of age to win.
“I know that some may say, ‘DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money,'” he said. “But truly, the real waste at this point in the pandemic, when the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it, is a life lost to COVID-19.”
The announcement prompted some quick, and in some cases snarky, responses on Twitter.
“Mike DeWine is bribing people with their own money,” said Josh Mandel, the state’s former treasurer.
All over the country, states and counties have been trying to get creative about how to convince their residents to get vaccinated.
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On May 5, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the Yankees and the Mets would be offering free tickets for those who received a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at their stadiums prior to a game.
“So if you love baseball (& protecting your community) — go to a game, get vaccinated & get a free ticket!” Cuomo said.
