California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the next 15 winners of the state’s vaccination lottery on June 11 in a broad statewide effort to get more people immunized against COVID-19 by offering cold-hard cash prizes.
The winners selected on June 11 during the state’s second such vaccine lottery drawing reside in the following California counties: Monterey, Sacramento, Alameda, three. Winners from Los Angeles Co., San Francisco, Fresno, San Diego, San Mateo, two winners from Santa Clara Co., Riverside, Orange County, and Kern County.
Each winner will receive $50,000. They will be contacted by the California Department of Public Health to be notified of their new status as lottery winners.
“California has made incredible progress in the fight against COVID-19, with the lowest case rates in the entire country and millions more vaccines administered than any other state. But we aren’t stopping there, we’re doing everything it takes to get Californians vaccinated as we approach June 15 to help us safely reopen and bring the state roaring back,” said Governor Newsom.
But the prizes for California’s vaccine lottery jackpot are set to get bigger when the state fully reopens next week.
“On June 15, when California safely reopens, 10 winners will be selected to receive $1.5 million each – adding up to a total of $15 million in cash prizes,” the state announced. “On top of that, the two million newly-vaccinated Californians who get their dose since Vax for the Win launched will be eligible to receive $50 prepaid and grocery cards.”
The state calls the incentive the largest one of its kind in the nation. Companies have offered free giveaways of their products with proof of vaccination, but California has gone all out to incentivize the effort.
“The $750,000 awarded in today’s randomized drawing is part of California’s new $116.5 million Vax for the Win program – the largest vaccine incentive program in the nation – which includes $50 incentive cards to newly vaccinated residents and cash prize drawings for all who have received at least one dose,” according to the state. “This historic program is designed to motivate Californians to get vaccinated leading up to the state’s reopening on June 15.”
Some other counties have also started their own incentive programs. Marin County will give new vaccine seekers grocery store gift cards.
“As the state gets closer to the June 15 reopening, Public Health hopes to best serve its community by supporting their needs,” the county announced. “A $25 grocery store gift card will be provided to new vaccine seekers at select Marin County vaccination sites while supplies last. Later this week, Public Health will update its online vaccine finder tool to highlight the specific vaccination sites that will offer the gift card incentive. Those gift cards will be handed out immediately following the first dose.”
Marin boasts one of California’s highest vaccination rates, but officials said they want it to get even higher.
“More than 88% of eligible Marin residents have chosen to get vaccinated for our community’s overall health,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, Deputy Public Health Officer. “We hope the chance to become a millionaire or even just the opportunity receive help with groceries, will help nudge that number even higher so we can obtain wider community immunity in the weeks ahead.”