As vax rates ease in WA, here come the prizes — including $1 million

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 could net you $1 million in cash, among other prizes.

On Thursday (June 3), Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state’s “Shot of a Lifetime” campaign — a slew of incentives ranging from a $1 million lottery drawing to a suite at a Seattle Mariners game to a year of tuition credits at any college or university in the state.

The effort is part of a push to get at least 70% of Washington adults one vaccine shot ahead of June 30.

Inslee has said reaching that mark would enable him to drop most of the state’s pandemic restrictions before July. But vaccination rates are stalling, and Washington isn’t on pace to meet the goal early, public health officials said earlier this week.

So far, about 63% of Washington adults have received at least one dose.

Starting next week, the Washington State Lottery will conduct a weekly drawing for $250,000 for four consecutive weeks. After that, there will be one last drawing for $1 million.

The only action needed to be eligible for a prize is to be vaccinated. Names of winners will come from the state’s immunization database. All previously vaccinated people will be included.

The incentives are open to all Washingtonians, regardless of citizenship status, though proof of residency is required.

Outside of the drawings, the state is dispersing nearly $1 million to public universities, community colleges and technical schools to administer their own drawings for free tuition and expenses.

And the state Department of Commerce is partnering with local chambers of commerce to purchase gift cards to businesses, which will be given away at vaccine locations.

The state Department of Health will also have $500,000 in gift cards to distribute throughout the summer as part of the Care-A-Van mobile vaccination effort.

In the past month, vaccine incentives have taken off nationwide.

West Virginia’s vaccine lottery includes custom hunting rifles, full-ride scholarships to colleges in the state, trucks and a nearly $1.6 million grand prize.

And California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Oregon all have similar programs.

President Joe Biden also announced a nationwide competition to see which mayors can boost their city’s vaccination rates the most.

So far, the mayors of Seattle, Spokane and Issaquah have signed up.

Private companies are getting involved, too.

On Wednesday (June 2), Anheuser-Busch said it will buy every vaccinated American 21 and older a beer if the country reaches 70% of adults with at least one shot by July 4.

Recipients would have to submit a photo of themselves “in their favorite place to grab a beer” to www.mycooler.com/beer to receive a $5 virtual credit card.

Grocery chain Kroger is giving away $1 million every week for five weeks to shoppers who got at least one of their shots at a Kroger-brand store or pharmacy. Kroger owns the Fred Meyer and QFC chains in Washington. The company is also giving 50 vaccine recipients free groceries for a year. To enter, visit www.krogergiveaway.com.

What you can win

• One drawing of $1 million.

• Four drawings of $250,000.

• 30 drawings for one year of college-tuition credits to 12-17 year-olds through Guaranteed Education Tuition.

• Two airline tickets to any Alaska Airlines destination.

• Four tickets to a Mariners game.

• A full suite at a Mariners game.

• Four tickets to a Seattle Sounders game in August, plus two autographed jerseys.

• 10 tickets to all remaining Seattle Storm games.

• Four club-level seats at a Seahawks game, plus parking passes.

• Seattle Kraken tickets.

• Four 2021 season tickets to the OL Reign, plus a signed jersey.