WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: Newly redesigned $100 notes lay in stacks at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on May 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The one hundred dollar bills will be released this fall and has new security features, such as a duplicating portrait of Benjamin Franklin and microprinting added to make the bill more difficult to counterfeit. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Ohio is pushing vaccinations to its residents and the stakes just got real high, get vaccinated in Ohio and you could become a millionaire.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced an entry into a $1 million lottery as an incentive to get vaccinated in his state, according to NBC News. The lottery is only open to adults, however, any teenager (between the ages of 12-17) who gets vaccinated will be entered into a separate raffle for a full-ride scholarship.
DeWine, a Republican, said only people who’ve gotten the vaccine will be eligible to win the $1 million bag, which will be paid for by federal coronavirus funds.
“To be eligible to win, you must be at least 18 years of age or older on the day of the drawing. You must be an Ohio resident. And, you must be vaccinated before the drawing,” DeWine said.
“Two weeks from tonight on May 26th, we will announce a winner of a separate drawing for adults who have received at least their first dose of the vaccine. This announcement will occur each Wednesday for five weeks, and the winner each Wednesday will receive one million dollars,” he added on Twitter.
DeWine acknowledged this new incentive could face criticism as some people might see it as a waste of money, but he disagrees.
“I know that some may say, ‘DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money.’ 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,” he wrote.
As far as the teen raffle goes, vaccinated teens will be entered into a drawing “for a four-year full scholarship to any of Ohio’s state colleges and universities, including full tuition, room, and board,” DeWine announced.
This major announcement came with some more news. DeWine also said that he’s asked the Ohio Department of Health to lift most pandemic health orders on June 2nd.
“It is time to end the health orders. It’s been a year. You’ve followed the protocols. You’ve done what we’ve asked. You’ve bravely fought this virus,”DeWine said in a statement.
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