Washington, United States:
As US officials scramble to convince citizens to get vaccinated against Covid-19, one state is placing its cash exactly where its mouth is — providing millions in lottery prizes for these who have received an injection.
Ohio governor Mike DeWine tweeted Wednesday that his state will give a $1 million prize away just about every week for 5 weeks in a lottery open to residents more than the age of 18 who have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.
“I know that some may say, ‘DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money,'” he tweeted.
“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,” the Republican governor continued.
The initially winner will be announced on May 26. After that, a new winner will be drawn every Wednesday for 5 weeks, for the identical quantity every time, DeWine stated.
The state is also providing a lottery for vaccinated beneath-17-year-olds — as an alternative of $1 million, they could win a complete 4-year scholarship to one of Ohio’s state universities, a worthwhile prize in a nation exactly where greater education is disproportionately costly.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday extended approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to adolescents ages 12 to 15.
The cash will come from an current federal fund set up to deal with the pandemic.
The United States initially saw a rush for folks to get the vaccine, and roughly 58.7 % of US adults have received at least one shot.
However, the quantity of everyday doses becoming administered is now declining, with numerous of these who have not however been vaccinated hesitant to do so.
A assortment of incentives are becoming presented across the nation to convince the undecided, which includes beer, donuts or tickets to sporting events.
This month, Maryland announced that state workers would get $one hundred if they had been vaccinated. In West Virginia, the identical quantity is becoming presented as a savings bonus to 16-35 year olds, an age group more reluctant to vaccinate.
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)