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 Get a COVID-19 shot and take a shot at winning big bucks in
Illinois?
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said June 2 that Illinois might launch a vaccine lottery
program offering up to $7 million in prizes to inoculated residents. He already
promoted Six Flags tickets and 100 shooting clays in exchange for immunizations,
plus on June 2 signed a law allowing a free shot of alcohol for new
vaccinations.
The lottery would be Pritzker’s largest incentive yet to get shots into the arms
of Illinoisans as the state vaccination rate continues to decline.
Shots peaked at about 133,ooo in mid-April and were at about 36,000 for the
7-day average on June 3. With more than half of adult Illinoisans fully
immunized, and two-thirds having received at least one dose, the state’s daily
vaccination rate has trickled to the lowest level since January when supply was
scarce.
“There are a lot of different incentives out there and I hope
people take advantage of them,” Pritzker said during a news conference in
Peoria. “We’re looking forward to potentially doing a vaccine lottery, as you’ve
heard about in other states.”
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Illinois would be the ninth state to introduce a
vaccine lottery after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine first debuted his Vax-a-Million
campaign in May. In the week following the lottery announcement,
Ohio saw first-time shot totals jump 40%, according to the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
The vaccine lottery is in development with the
Illinois Lottery and Illinois Department of Public Health, with
Pritzker’s office saying the prizes will be announced “very soon.”
It would offer up to $7 million in prizes to adult residents and,
potentially, up to $3 million in “scholarships or educational
awards” for those under 18.
For help finding a vaccine appointment in Chicago, visit zocdoc.com
or call (312) 746-4835. The city is offering in-home vaccinations to
any resident 65 or older, as well as those with disabilities or
underlying health conditions.
For suburban Cook County sites, visit vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or
call (833) 308-1988.
To find providers elsewhere, visit coronavirus.illinois.gov or call
(833) 621-1284.
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