Millions in COVID vaccine incentives explained
COLUMBUS(AP) — Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine has made many newsworthy statements in his long political career, but perhaps none has generated such an immediate and intense response as announcing a weekly $1 million prize and full-ride college scholarships to entice more Ohioans to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The plan unveiled Wednesday by the Republican governor drew criticism from some Democratic and GOP lawmakers who said it isn’t appropriate to use federal pandemic dollars for a contest. But Andy Slavitt, President Joe Biden’s senior COVID19 advisor, said anything that draws attention to vaccines is a good thing.
“In general, I think we like the idea of contests,” Slavitt told CNN.
Dewine says he understands people may think he’s crazy and consider the concept a waste of money. But he said Wednesday the real waste is a loss of life to the virus now that the vaccine is available.
Beginning May 26, the lottery will provide a $1 million prize each Wednesday for five weeks.
Dewine said details are still being ironed out, but in short, Ohioans age 18 and older who have received at least one dose of the vaccine can get into the drawing one of two ways. Those who are registered voters in the Secretary of State’s database will be entered automatically. A website will be available for people to enter if they’re not in the elections system.
Each week, names of potential winners will be drawn and their eligibility verified, including whether they’ve been vaccinated, Dewine spokesman Dan Tierney said. Then their names will be announced during the Ohio Lottery Wednesday evening broadcast, he said.
Vaccinated Ohioans under 18 will be entered into a similar drawing for full college scholarships, including tuition and room and board.
The state Health Department will administer the drawings with help from the Ohio Lottery Commission. Winners will pay taxes.
The money will come from the Health Department’s unspent coronavirus relief funds. Ohio already distributed $5.9 billion in federal pandemic funds, and is now in line to receive nearly $5.4 billion in aid from Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, amounts dwarfing the lottery payouts.
The lottery is unlikely to change the minds of those who question the vaccine’s safety or are adamantly against getting the shot, said Jane Risen, a behavioral science professor at the University of Chicago who studies judgment and decisionmaking.
But for those who are worried about side effects or don’t want to take time off work, a $1 million prize could be persuasive, she said.
“We know people pay attention to lotteries and big prizes,” she said. “Even though the chances are small, people focus on the prize rather than the probability of winning.”