NY Kicks Off College Scholarship Raffle For Vaccinated Teens

LONG ISLAND, NY — With kids from 12 to 17 reflecting the group with the lowest number of coronavirus vaccinations in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched a new program Wednesday to incentivize shots in arms — a lottery giving students the chance to win 50 full, four-year scholarships to state and city schools.

On Wednesday, Cuomo said the statewide positivity rate stood at 0.70 percent, or 0.69 percent on Long Island; 17 people died in New York over the past 24 hours. A total of 55.5 percent of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, with 64 percent having received one dose.

The number of people coming in for vaccinations has seen a sharp 47 percent decline, with kids ages 12 to 17 the group where there is the greatest need for vaccinations; they represent 5 percent of current COVID-19 tests administered but a 10 percent positivity rate, Cuomo said.

With an eye toward getting creative, Cuomo announced the "Get Your Shot, Make Your Future" initiative: The state will raffle off, on a weekly basis, 50 full-tuition four-year scholarships, including room and board, to any public college or university in New York State for 12-to-17 year olds vaccinated with the two-part Pfizer shot in the next six weeks.

Young people who get vaccinated sooner have a greater chance of winning because they will be entered in each of the weekly raffles, which will take place every Wednesday through July 7. There will be 10 four-year scholarships raffled off every Wednesday, Cuomo said.