The Los Angeles Post

California Holds Final Vax for the Win Drawing, Selects Winners in Dream Vacations Giveaway

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Six vaccinated Californians will receive vacation travel packages to destination cities including Anaheim, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco

SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) hosted a Dream Vacations giveaway as the final drawing in the state’s Vax for the Win incentive program, which aims to motivate more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The program continues to have a positive impact on the rate of vaccinations since its launch on May 27, and it has increased the number of doses administered in the state’s hardest hit communities for five weeks in a row.

“This incentive program is about motivating Californians and offering gratitude. It’s a ‘thank you’ to those who are already vaccinated and those who have started their vaccination process to keep our communities safe from COVID-19,” said Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “Data shows nearly all people who are dying from COVID-19 right now are unvaccinated. With evidence that the Delta variant is spreading even faster than previous forms of COVID, we cannot let up on our vaccine effort.”

During the Vax for the Win program’s peak, California saw a 33% increase in vaccinations (5/27-6/02 vs. 6/03-6/09) — at the time, making California one of the only states in the country to achieve a week-over-week increase in the rate of vaccinations. Outside of this peak, the incentive program has shown promising results for slowing down the rate of decline in first doses administered that California and the rest of the country is experiencing. Additionally, the program has improved the rate at which people are completing their two-dose series.

All Californians aged 18 and older who are at least partially vaccinated are automatically entered for a chance to win one of six vacation getaways to destination cities, including Anaheim, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego and San Francisco.

The six trip packages include:

  • Discover the Best of Anaheim package for four
  • Premium Los Angeles Experience for four
  • Palm Springs Luxury package for two
  • San Diego Beach Dream Vacation for four
  • San Diego Downtown Dream Vacation for four
  • San Francisco “Our Gate Is Open” Welcome Package for four

Winners who have only had one dose of either Pfizer or Moderna at the time of the draw will need to complete their vaccination series before they can receive their prize.

Details on the Dream Vacations packages can be found at covid19.ca.gov/vax-for-the-win/.

The Dream Vacations were curated by San Francisco Travel, Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit Anaheim, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and the San Diego Tourism Authority. Tourism businesses across the state. Californians selected will also receive $2,000 to offset travel expenses.

Today’s winners live in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Orange, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz. Similar to the Vax for the Win cash prize drawings, winners of the Dream Vacations were randomly selected from the pool of eligible Californians. They start being notified directly by the CDPH within hours of the drawing and over the coming days by telephone, text, email or other contact information associated with the person’s record in the state’s immunization information systems. To protect their privacy, all winners will have the option to accept their prize while remaining anonymous or decline it altogether.

The Vax for the Win program continues across California. You Call the Shot $50 cards are still available for any Californian beginning their vaccination series, while supplies last. Californians should not wait. Similarly, select clinics in the Bay Area and Los Angeles area still have a limited supply of free passes to Six Flags theme parks for Californians coming in to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Details can be found at covid19.ca.gov/vax-for-the-win

Californians who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to go to myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255 to schedule their appointment as soon as possible, or go to myturn.ca.gov/clinic to find a walk-in clinic in their area.