NC Set To Award State's First $1M Vaccination Lottery Winner

NORTH CAROLINA — A vaccinated North Carolina resident will become $1 million richer Wednesday. In a bid to increase vaccination rates, the state is awarding the first of four $1 million prizes over the next three months in a lottery drawing among residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine.

The Summer Cash Drawing will be held at the North Carolina Education Lottery headquarters in Raleigh on June 23 at 10 a.m.

North Carolinians 18 years old and older who have been vaccinated are automatically enrolled in the lottery drawing. State residents between the ages of 12-17 who have received at least one dose of vaccine are automatically entered into the Summer Cash 4 College Drawing, which awards a $125,000 prize to go towards post-secondary education.

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

It could take days before the winners are announced, however, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. After a random number generator draws a number, DHHS will then determine their identities.

"NCDHHS will then verify that the individuals do not fall under any exclusions from participation in the program and contact the individuals to get their consent to receive the funds and release their identities," the agency said. "This process may take several days. No identifying details will be revealed prior to that."

After the first drawing on June 23, additional drawings will be held every other Wednesday, on July 7, July 21 and Aug. 4.