$1 Million Giveaways: Ohioans Can Win Big For Getting Vaccinated

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohioans can win $1 million for simply getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

During a statewide address on Wednesday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new initiative to get more Ohioans vaccinated. The initiative? Once a week, for five weeks, one Ohioan will win $1 million for getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

"I know that some may say, “DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money.” But truly, the real waste at this point in the pandemic — when the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it — is a life lost to COVID-19," DeWine said.

The first winner will be announced May 26. Four additional winners will be announced in the subsequent four weeks.

Winners must be at least 18-years-old, Ohio residents, and recipients of at least the first part of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The pool of names for the drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State's publicly available voter registration database. Further, we will make available a webpage for people to sign up for the drawings if they are not in a database we are using," DeWine said.

The Ohio Department of Health will sponsor the drawings and the Ohio Lottery will conduct the drawing. The money to support these programs will come from existing federal Coronavirus Relief Funds.

State Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes, a Democrat and the Ohio House Minority leader, criticized DeWine's lottery announcement, calling the drawing a "grave misuse of funds."

“As elected leaders, we’re obligated to take seriously our duty to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Using millions of dollars in relief funds in a drawing is a grave misuse of money that could be going to respond to this ongoing crisis. Ohioans deserve better than this. I do hope people continue to get the vaccine and help our state reach herd immunity so our economy and way of life can thrive again," she said in a statement.

With the Pfizer vaccine now available to people as young as 12, the state is also launching a separate giveaway for teenagers.

The state will randomly select five vaccinated high school students and give them a four-year scholarship to any state school. The scholarship will cover tuition, room-and-board and other expenses.

Students will need to register for the drawing via an electronic portal. The portal will open May 18.