vax-a-million
Latest increase in cases, hospitalizations has Ohio health officials pushing vaccines
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff acknowledges that as the public face of the Ohio Department of Health he is repeating himself a lot these days. But the message is important enough to continue repeating in simple terms, ODH’s chief medical officer said Wednesday. “It really comes down to, are you vaccinated and safe or are you unvaccinated […]
Results of Vax-A-Million: Ohio vaccination rate spiked, then fizzled
When Ohio’s governor announced a first-in-the-nation vaccine sweepstakes, he acknowledged it might seem like a farfetched idea. “Now I know that some of you now are shaking your head and saying, ‘That Mike DeWine, he’s crazy. This million dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money,’” he said during a public address. Indeed, […]
States follow Ohio’s lead in announcing their own vaccine lotteries
What some Ohio lawmakers saw as a wasteful gameshow gimmick, other governors saw as an opportunity. It took only a few weeks after Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Vax-A-Million for other states to introduce their own vaccine lottery programs. There are cash prizes in Oregon, music festival tickets awarded in Delaware and even custom rifles […]
‘Get a shot and have a beer’: Biden touts free brew, pro sports tickets and child care to boost vaccines
WASHINGTON — Free child care during COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Late-night appointment slots on Fridays. And free beer for everybody over 21 if President Joe Biden’s vaccination goal is reached next month. These are some of the latest incentives and strategies lined up by the Biden administration to boost national vaccinations against COVID-19 leading up to the […]
Mailbag: The lowdown on winning the Ohio Vax-A-Million lottery
You have a 1-in-2.8 million chance of winning the Vax-A-Million, but at least a 1-in-3 chance of enjoying the Ohio Capital Journal Mailbag column. With those odds in mind, let’s get started: Got a question about Ohio politics/government? Send them by email to [email protected] or tweet them to @tylerjoelb. Can you take the Vax-A-Million winnings […]
Vax-a-Million: Is it worth it?
Last weekend, the Ohio Capital Journal reported that a state representative is considering introducing legislation to halt the “Vax-a-Million” campaign, a public outreach campaign that is famously giving $1 million to five Ohioans who have been vaccinated and registered for the program. The Journal has also covered the consternation with the program among legislators, with […]
DeWine speaks out against legislative attempt to block Vax-A-Million: ‘I respectfully disagree’
A proposal to halt Ohio’s Vax-A-Million program has not yet been formally introduced, but Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday he hopes it will make no progress over the coming weeks. And, should the bill somehow reach his desk, DeWine said he would surely veto it. Just as DeWine’s vaccine lottery program has received plenty of […]
With drawing days away, Ohio legislation seeks to stop Vax-A-Million program
Five Ohioans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are about to win $1 million through a new vaccine lottery program, but a Republican lawmaker wants to call the whole thing off. State Rep. Jena Powell, R-Arcanum, is drafting legislation that would prevent the state from administering any vaccine lottery program. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans […]
What the Vax-a-Million says about us
There is a saying in public health that you need to “meet people where they are.” The problem is that realizing where people are can sometimes be depressing. This is this hard truth that Gov. Mike DeWine alone was willing to face in turning to a lottery — the so-called Vax-a-Million — to convince more […]
Vax-A-Million seen as unorthodox, but legal way to promote vaccines in Ohio
New Jersey is offering free beer and New York is offering tickets to Yankee stadium. Ohio, meanwhile, is offering a much bigger incentive to getting the COVID-19 vaccine: $1 million in cold, hard cash. Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement of a “Vax-A-Million” lottery has turned heads this week, with Ohioans debating the merits of the program […]