Ohio Sees Vaccine Increase After Lottery Announcement, DeWine Says

 

Ohio has seen an increase in vaccinations after the state announced a lottery prize for those who have been vaccinated, according to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

DeWine said in a tweet on Friday that the state’s Vax-a-Million campaign has driven a 28 percent increase in vaccination rates among Ohio residents ages 16 and older.

More than 5.1 million Ohio residents have received at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, totaling nearly 44 percent, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. Vaccines are now available to all Ohio residents ages 12 and older.

Since 5/13, the #𝐎𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐕𝐚𝐱𝐀𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟔+ 𝐛𝐲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘅. 𝟐𝟖%. Vaccinated Ohioans can enter to win at https://t.co/Svppf9cYKe. pic.twitter.com/XHeq68cBkS

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 21, 2021

The lottery program was announced earlier this month and is meant to encourage Ohioans to receive a coronavirus vaccine. Ohioans ages 12 to 17 are eligible to win a four-year full scholarship — which includes full tuition, room and board — to any of Ohio’s state colleges and universities. Those 18 and older will be entered into a weekly drawing with a prize of up to $1 million.

“For a year, Ohioans have made sacrifices to save lives and keep our state moving forward.  What you have done has really worked!” DeWine said in a statement announcing the program earlier this month. “And now, we have a powerful weapon that is almost 100 percent effective in beating the virus.”

Those ages 70 to 74 have the highest percentage of those who are vaccinated, with more than 82 percent receiving at least their first dose, according to ODH data. They are followed by those ages 75 to 79 at more than 78 percent and those ages 65 to 69 at more than 77 percent. More than 245,000 Ohioans between the ages of 12 and 15 have been vaccinated.

The first scholarship winner is set to be drawn on May 24 and announced on May 26, according to the Vax-a-Million website.

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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.