Another lottery initiative: California announces $116 million in incentives for COVID-19 vaccination

California health officials are offering a combined $116 million worth of incentives for state residents to get vaccinated, the state announced Thursday.

Californians who are already vaccinated against COVID-19 are already entered to win prizes, and newly vaccinated residents will become eligible for drawings. Prizes include ten chances to win a $1.5 million cash lottery prize.

In addition, every Californian 12 and up who has received a COVID-19 vaccine is eligible for additional cash prize drawings, which will be awarded by the state in $50,000 increments every Friday. The cash will be put in a savings account if the winner is under 18.

A news release from the governor’s office indicated that the next two million Californians who receive their first and second dose, if applicable, of a COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday will also be eligible to receive a $50 “prepaid or grocery card,” a program valued at $100 million in total.

Current status: Just over 40 percent of California’s total population had received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday afternoon. The state is home to nearly 40 million people.

“We’re doing everything it takes to get Californians vaccinated as we approach June 15 to help us fully reopen safely,” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said.

Follows: Ohio first started its lottery offering five people $1 million and five teenagers scholarships earlier this month and has now seen rising vaccination numbers. Since Ohio’s apparent success, New York, Maryland, Oregon and Colorado have launched their own lottery incentives.