Missouri leaders say more than 45,000 adults have gotten the vaccine since the launch of the incentive program
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri's Vaccine Incentive Program or MO VIP will have its fourth drawing of winners Wednesday and state leaders are considering the program to have been a success.
Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, said the state has had about 630,000 people enter the program and more than 45,000 adults have been vaccinated since the program's launch.
Each drawing generates 180 winners. Adults who win will receive $10,000, while adolescents (age 12 to 17) get an education savings account with $10,000 in it.
"We decided that what might work best in Missouri is to really scatter out those prizes and make them attainable. So, the setup is really to where you know you will probably know someone, or know someone who knows someone who wins a prize," Cox said.
The state's current vaccination rate of 47% puts Missouri in the bottom third in the nation at 39th.
Cox said the state has prioritized vaccinating the older, most vulnerable part of the population since the beginning. According to the state health department's website, 78% of the 65 and older are fully vaccinated.
Since the beginning of the school year, the younger population is now a bigger priority. Cox said the state has also had more than 35,000 minors vaccinated and then entered to win that scholarship prize.
"We know that the 12 to 17 population has our lowest vaccination rate and being in school and sports, and everything, it's really important for them to get vaccinated and also to stay in-seat learning," Cox said. The 12 to 17 age group currently stands at 34% fully vaccinated.
Neighboring Illinois is giving away $7 million to vaccinated residents. There are three $1 million jackpots and 40 $100,000 prizes. Illinois' vaccination rate is 52.8%.
Cox said the state looked closely at Ohio when creating a vaccine incentive program; Ohio currently has 49.7% of the population fully vaccinated.
New registrations for the fourth drawing will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday through the online form and 7:29 p.m. through the call center at 877-435-8411. All previous entries that did not win in the last drawing will be entered into the next drawing.
Since the last drawing for the vaccine lottery is on Oct. 8, the state is working closely with local public health agencies to begin offering gift cards for those who get vaccinated.
