Vaccinated Coloradans are now eligible for a chance to receive $1 million through Colorado Comeback Cash, a program launched by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in partnership with the Colorado Lottery.
The initiative aims to increase the number of Coloradans getting vaccinated and “help get us over the hump” to achieve herd immunity, Gov. Jared Polis said at a press conference Tuesday. “If you’ve been delaying plans to get vaccinated or still on the fence, now is the time to swing big. It could transform your life.”
Are you eligible for the $1 million drawing?
Five drawings for $1 million each will happen each Friday beginning June 4; the last will be on July 7. To be eligible for the drawing, you must be at least 18 years of age when you win — meaning you could have gotten the shot as a 17 year-old and still be eligible — be a resident of Colorado and have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
Every person who has received at least one dose is automatically entered into the drawing.
Coloradans under 18 are eligible for a scholarship prize, the details of which will be announced in the coming weeks. Polis said the state is “very close” to having 20% of 12- to 17-year-olds vaccinated.
The funding for the five drawings is CARES Act money that Polis said would have otherwise been used for marketing and advertising purposes.
“We feel this complements some of the advertising and outreach that we’re doing and will generate even more interest in the vaccine than if we simply had spent this money on television commercials,” Polis said.
The million dollars is subject to taxes but will be delivered in a lump sum payment.
Number of vaccinations given continues to decrease
In recent weeks, the number of vaccinations given across the state have continued to decrease drastically. State data showed that 22,550 doses were administered
last week; in March, more than 230,000 doses were given each week. As of May 25, almost 2.5 million Coloradans are fully vaccinated and nearly 3 million have received at least one shot, according to state data. Polis said these odds give each person about a one in 500,000 chance of winning, which he called “better odds” than in any other lottery-type contest.
Colorado joins other states with lottery systems to incentivize vaccination
Colorado is joining a number of other states that have launched lottery systems to incentivize vaccination. Ohio was the first state to offer vaccinated residents a chance to win money, holding five $1 million lotteries over the course of five weeks. Polis cited Ohio in the announcement, saying they saw a “double-digit percentage increase,” particularly among younger people, after announcing the lottery.
According to the Ohio department of health, the first drawing — whose winner will be announced Wednesday — included almost 2.8 million adult entries and about 104,000 kids ages 12 to 17, who are eligible for a college scholarship.
“May the odds be ever in your favor, Colorado,” Polis said. “Every vaccine works incredibly well, so rather than gamble on getting COVID, let’s take a chance on winning a million dollars.”
https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2021/05/25/colorado-lottery-vaccinated-offer-5-chances-win-1-m/7430659002/