Ohio offers residents chance to win $1 million in lottery effort to boost COVID vaccination rate

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is offering residents a chance to win $1 million as part of an effort to incentivize them to get a COVID vaccine.

The name of those who have received one of two shots will be put into a lottery, and five winners will be picked, staring May 26.

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The winnings will come from federal coronavirus relief funds, according to Politico.

"I know that some may say, 'DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money,' " the governor 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."

Participants must be 18 or older. 

DeWine also announced a drawing for 12- to 17-year-old vaccinated Ohio residents to win a full, four-year scholarship to a public university in the state, Politico also reports.