Ohio Vax-A-Million

Ohio Vax-A-Million is a lottery-style incentive program created by the state of Ohio to encourage residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The program was announced by Governor Mike DeWine on May 12, 2021, and it aimed to increase the state's vaccination rates by offering significant prizes to vaccinated individuals.

Overview

The Ohio Vax-A-Million program was designed to boost the state's efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative was funded through federal CARES Act dollars allocated to Ohio. The program consisted of five weekly drawings, each offering a $1 million prize for adults and a full-ride scholarship to any Ohio public university for individuals aged 12 to 17.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Ohio Vax-A-Million drawings, participants had to meet the following criteria:

• Be a permanent resident of Ohio.
• Be at least 12 years old.
• Have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Participants were required to register for the drawings through the official Ohio Vax-A-Million website or by calling a designated phone number.

Drawings and Winners

The drawings were conducted by the Ohio Lottery and took place over five consecutive weeks, starting on May 26, 2021. The winners were announced publicly, and the $1 million prize was awarded to one adult each week, while the scholarship prize was awarded to one adolescent each week.

Impact

The Ohio Vax-A-Million program received widespread attention and was credited with significantly increasing vaccination rates in the state. Following the announcement of the program, Ohio saw a notable uptick in the number of residents receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The success of the program inspired other states to implement similar lottery-style incentives to boost vaccination efforts.

Criticism and Controversy

While the Ohio Vax-A-Million program was praised for its innovative approach, it also faced criticism. Some critics argued that the use of federal funds for a lottery was inappropriate and that the money could have been better spent on other public health initiatives. Others questioned the ethics of using a lottery to incentivize medical decisions.

See also

• COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
• COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
• Public health
• Lottery

External links

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