Got The Vaccine At A CVS In Maryland? Big Prizes Are Possible

MARYLAND — A trip to the Super Bowl, an international vacation and a VIP package to the iHeartMedia Radio Music Festival could await people in Maryland who have received the coronavirus vaccine at a CVS Health pharmacy, or plan to schedule theirs at a CVS before mid-July.

The pharmacy chain released its initial plans for its “#OneStepCloser sweepstakes” that will begin June 1 as a way to encourage vaccinations at CVS pharmacies across America. Thousands of winners will be selected in various drawings over a six-week period this summer, the pharmacy said in a news release.

The move is part of a growing push by states and companies to vaccinate Americans against the coronavirus. Maryland's latest COVID-19 vaccination campaign tries to entice residents to get their shot by offering a total of $2 million in cash prizes.

Daily drawings will be held from May 25 to July 3. Each day, the Maryland Lottery will randomly select and award $40,000 to a vaccinated resident. Then, on July 4, one lucky winner will receive a cash prize of $400,000.

CVS pharmacy locations across the state offer the coronavirus vaccine. If you haven't yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, you still can. Go here to see the CVS Health locations in your area and confirm that they offer coronavirus vaccines.

Dr. Kyu Rhee, a CVS chief medical officer, said more than 17 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered at locations throughout the United States, “but we have a long way to go.”

“Getting as much of the population fully vaccinated will bring us one step closer to all the things we’ve missed during the past 14 months, and keep our country moving in the right direction,” Rhee said in a statement.

That direction, for some winners of the sweepstakes, will include a seven-day cruise for two on the Norwegian CruiseLine, a trip to Bermuda or a two-night weekend getaway at a Wyndham hotel, according to the sweepstakes’ description. CVS said it will also give away $500 in cash to 125 winners, and $5,000 to five.

Related: MD Paying $2M In Prizes To Select Vaccinated Residents

The company said it is “working to close gaps in hesitancy” to inoculation, citing a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey that shows 17.6 percent of adults are hesitant about the vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

CVS’ vaccination incentive effort is among the latest across the country to encourage people to get vaccinated for the coronavirus. In Ohio, the state is offering $1 million to randomly selected residents who have received the vaccine.

Maryland residents who have received at least one vaccination for COVID-19 administered in Maryland at any time are eligible for the state's lottery drawings. Winners will first receive a notification from the Maryland Department of Health, which will send each winner a "$2 Million VaxCash Promotion Authorization Form" that will allow the Maryland Department of Health to release information to the Maryland Lottery.

The last drawing of Maryland's promotion will be held on July 4, 2021. You must be vaccinated, and a record of your vaccination must be received and accepted as valid in the State of Maryland's Immunization Information System, ImmuNet, by 11:59:59 p.m. on July 3, 2021 to be eligible.

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In California, 10 vaccinated people will all get $1.5 million when selected on June 15. The Golden State is also offering $50,000 in cash to 30 others earlier in June.

Budweiser, White Castle and Krispy Kreme are among other companies that have offered free items for vaccinated people.