Mike DeWine, the Republican governor of Ohio, announced on Wednesday that the state will host a “vaccine lottery” to reward five lucky recipients of the controversial COVID vaccines with a $1 million cash prize.
DeWine, who obessivelt posts about the CPIVD vaccine on his official Twitter account, stated, “Two weeks from tonight on May 26th, we will announce a winner of a separate drawing for adults who have received at least their first dose of the vaccine. This announcement will occur each Wednesday for five weeks, and the winner each Wednesday will receive one million dollars.”
“The pool of names for the drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State’s publicly available voter registration database,” Dewine added. “Further, we will make available a webpage for people to sign up for the drawings if they are not in a database we are using.”
The pool of names for the drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State’s publicly available voter registration database. Further, we will make available a webpage for people to sign up for the drawings if they are not in a database we are using.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 12, 2021
DeWine noted that the cash for the lottery will be withdrawn from federal coronavirus relief funds, and boasted, “I know that some may say, DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money.’ 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.”
I know that some may say, “DeWine, you’re crazy! This million-dollar drawing idea of yours is a waste of money.” 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.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 12, 2021
DeWine also announced plans for a “separate incentive” to coax adolescents into receiving the vaccine. “On Wednesday, May 26th, we will announce the winner of a drawing of all those 17 years old and under who have been vaccinated, and the winner will receive a full, four-year scholarship to our State of Ohio universities. This will include tuition, room and board, and books,” DeWine tweeted.
On Wednesday, May 26th, we will announce the winner of a drawing of all those 17 years old and under who have been vaccinated, and the winner will receive a full, four-year scholarship to our State of Ohio universities. This will include tuition, room and board, and books.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 12, 2021
The lottery’s announcement has drawn backlash on social media, with many Ohio residents criticizing the governor for attempting to turn a public health issue into a public spectacle.
