Announcing a major change Monday morning, state officials said that all Ohioans must now register to have a chance at winning the state's $1 million vaccine lottery. Ohioans can do so by clicking this link. Registration will begin on Tuesday afternoon. NOTE: The above site is live, but officials are not yet allowing Ohioans to register.Individuals can also opt-in for eligibility by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.This is a major change from what Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine initially announced last week, saying the pool of names for the drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State’s publicly available voter registration databaseTo be eligible, individuals must be an Ohio resident, and must have at least one shot of the COVD-19 vaccine at the time of the lottery. Winners will be chosen every Wednesday, beginning May 26, at 7:29 p.m. Winners will need to verify their vaccination status and will be asked to provide their vaccine card.Five Ohioans over the age of 18 will be chosen at random in five separate weekly drawings. The first drawing will be held on May 26, with four consecutive drawings held each Wednesday that follows.Each winner will be given $1 million. Winners will need to pay taxes.The Ohio Department of Health will be the sponsoring agency for the drawings, and the Ohio Lottery will conduct them.Five people 17 years old and under will be eligible to win a full four-year scholarship if vaccinated. Registration is the same for these individuals, clicking here to sign up. One student will be randomly selected each Wednesday for five weeks as well, the governor announced, receiving a full scholarship — including tuition, room and board and books — to an Ohio university.Right now, 42% have at least a single dose.Sean Cook of Wyoming is one of them."Fully vaccinated. So, I'll be eligible and I will take the opportunity for that chance. So, I will enter my name for the drawing," he said.One woman who works downtown told us the topic has been the talk of the office. At street level, that talk runs the gamut from creatively motivating to downright gimmicky."I would qualify and I wouldn't turn the million dollars down," Ken Perica, of Western Hills, said, laughing.But he said he thinks it is frivolous.Community health leaders are eager to find out if the lure of $1 million becomes a game-changer."This really creates, you know, an urgency to be part of this Vax-a-Million to do it sooner rather than later. And that is going to help us," said Kate Schroder who is advising the Health Collaborative about vaccine distribution.The rate in this region is significantly higher than the overall statewide vaccination rate.Fewer than 5 million Ohio adults have had a shot.Their odds of winning, of course, are higher if that number stays the same. But health leaders like Schroder are hoping it'll soar."We are all learning as we go in figuring out what is going to work in this community to increase the number of people vaccinated," she said.The Vax-a-Million money did not grow on trees.It comes from the billions of federal dollars sent to the state for help during the pandemic.
CINCINNATI —
Announcing a major change Monday morning, state officials said that all Ohioans must now register to have a chance at winning the state's $1 million vaccine lottery.
Ohioans can do so by clicking this link. Registration will begin on Tuesday afternoon.
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NOTE: The above site is live, but officials are not yet allowing Ohioans to register.
Individuals can also opt-in for eligibility by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
This is a major change from what Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine initially announced last week, saying the pool of names for the drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State’s publicly available voter registration database
To be eligible, individuals must be an Ohio resident, and must have at least one shot of the COVD-19 vaccine at the time of the lottery. Winners will be chosen every Wednesday, beginning May 26, at 7:29 p.m.
Winners will need to verify their vaccination status and will be asked to provide their vaccine card.
Five Ohioans over the age of 18 will be chosen at random in five separate weekly drawings. The first drawing will be held on May 26, with four consecutive drawings held each Wednesday that follows.
Each winner will be given $1 million. Winners will need to pay taxes.
The Ohio Department of Health will be the sponsoring agency for the drawings, and the Ohio Lottery will conduct them.
Five people 17 years old and under will be eligible to win a full four-year scholarship if vaccinated. Registration is the same for these individuals, clicking here to sign up.
One student will be randomly selected each Wednesday for five weeks as well, the governor announced, receiving a full scholarship — including tuition, room and board and books — to an Ohio university.
Right now, 42% have at least a single dose.
Sean Cook of Wyoming is one of them.
"Fully vaccinated. So, I'll be eligible and I will take the opportunity for that chance. So, I will enter my name for the drawing," he said.
One woman who works downtown told us the topic has been the talk of the office. At street level, that talk runs the gamut from creatively motivating to downright gimmicky.
"I would qualify and I wouldn't turn the million dollars down," Ken Perica, of Western Hills, said, laughing.
But he said he thinks it is frivolous.
Community health leaders are eager to find out if the lure of $1 million becomes a game-changer.
"This really creates, you know, an urgency to be part of this Vax-a-Million to do it sooner rather than later. And that is going to help us," said Kate Schroder who is advising the Health Collaborative about vaccine distribution.
The rate in this region is significantly higher than the overall statewide vaccination rate.
Fewer than 5 million Ohio adults have had a shot.
Their odds of winning, of course, are higher if that number stays the same. But health leaders like Schroder are hoping it'll soar.
"We are all learning as we go in figuring out what is going to work in this community to increase the number of people vaccinated," she said.
The Vax-a-Million money did not grow on trees.
It comes from the billions of federal dollars sent to the state for help during the pandemic.
