NC To Award $1M Prizes, Expand Cash Incentives For Vaccinations

NORTH CAROLINA —North Carolina leaders are aiming to inject new momentum into the state's flagging COVID vaccination rate with an incentive they hope will have universal appeal: cold, hard cash.

Over the next three months, North Carolina will give away four $1 million prizes through a drawing benefitting state residents who have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine, as well as expand a $25 cash card incentive program in areas of the state, Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday.

The news comes as at least 54 percent of adults in North Carolina had received at least one dose of vaccine, and 50 percent of the adults in the state were fully vaccinated.

"North Carolinians 18 and over who get vaccinated or have already been vaccinated will be automatically entered. North Carolinians from 12-17 who have gotten at least one shot are automatically entered into four drawings to pay $125,000 for a college education at a school of their choice," Cooper said.

North Carolina will pay for the incentives using federal COVID relief funds, Cooper said. Winners of the cash drawing must agree to their name being made public in order to claim the prize. And, all winnings are subject to state and federal taxes.

The first drawing is June 23. Additional drawings will be held every other Wednesday, on July 7, July 21 and Aug. 4.

"For extra incentive, anyone getting their first shot from today going forward will be entered twice for each drawing," Cooper said.

The new incentive campaign targets a very specific group in the state. As of Thursday, about 2.5 million adults in North Carolina remain unvaccinated, according to Cooper.

"Getting that first shot now will double your chances each time a name is picked," he said. "Of course, the best reason to get vaccinated is to protect yourself and your family. Now that most people aren’t wearing masks in most places, unvaccinated people can be a real danger to each other."

SEE ALSO: NC Offers $25 Cash Cards For First Dose Vaccinations

Similar cash drawings have moved the needle in other states, the governor said. In Ohio, for example, vaccination rates jumped 28 percent after they launched a similar campaign.

In the meantime, residents in some counties will soon be eligible for a $25 cash card just for showing up to get a vaccine or driving someone to get their shot. Last month, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services kicked off a $25 Cash Card program trial in four counties.

"The response is promising," Cooper said. "More counties will be added in coming weeks."

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