Trevor James
California has introduced a COVID-19 vaccine lottery, Vax for the Win, to incentivize more Californians to get vaccinated. The lottery includes cash prizes of $50,000 and $1.5 million. If you live in California, are aged 12 or older, and have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you will be automatically entered into all the drawings. Winners will be notified by the California Department of Public Health, and their names will not be made public during the drawings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Entry criteria | Living in California, being 12 or older, and having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine |
| Notification of winning | By the California Department of Public Health |
| Publicity of winners' names | Not made public during the drawings, but winners may choose to publicize their names |
| Eligibility | Immigration status does not affect eligibility. Incarcerated people, certain public employees, and their immediate families are not eligible. |
| Prizes | $50,000, $1.5 million, $50 grocery cards, and $116.5 million in total prize money |
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What You'll Learn
Who is eligible for the California vaccine lottery?
If you live in California, are 12 years of age or older, and have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you are automatically entered into all the drawings. This includes the $1.5 million grand prize, which was announced on June 15.
Immigration status does not affect eligibility, but incarcerated people, employees of the California Department of Public Health, the California State Lottery, the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Government Operations Agency, and the Office of the Governor, and their immediate families, are not eligible.
Winners will be notified by the California Department of Public Health, and their names will not be made public during the drawings. Winners will have the option to decline the prize or keep their names anonymous.
The "Vax for the Win" program is California's $116.5 million vaccine incentive program, which includes cash prize drawings for all who have received at least one dose. The program was designed to encourage Californians to get vaccinated before the state's reopening on June 15.
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How do I know if I've won?
If you've been vaccinated in California, you are automatically entered into all the state's vaccine incentives, including the grand prize drawing. Winners will be notified by the California Department of Public Health. The California Department of Public Health will provide a list of random number identifiers to the California Lottery. These numbers will correspond with individuals' identities, but only public health officials will be able to access names and identifying information.
Public health officials will try to make contact via telephone. If that doesn’t work, they will make repeated efforts to contact winners via phone, text, email, or other contact information provided in the state’s vaccine registry. If the state can’t make contact within 96 hours, the person may no longer be offered a prize, and another person may be selected.
Winners' names won't be announced at first, due to federal privacy rules. Winners may be identified to the public following their selection, but only if they give permission to the state to release their name. Winners can remain anonymous if they choose.
Please be aware that scammers may use this lottery as an opportunity. If anyone calls, texts, or emails you saying that you've won, do not give them your banking information or Social Security number. The state should already have that information.
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What are the prizes?
If you've been vaccinated in California, you're automatically entered into the state's "Vax for the Win" drawing. The prizes for the lottery are as follows:
On June 4, 2021, the first drawing took place, where 15 people were awarded $50,000 each. Another 15 people were selected on June 11, 2021, and awarded the same amount. These drawings were for individuals who had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The grand prize was announced on June 15, 2021, where 10 people were selected to receive $1.5 million each. This drawing was also open to those who had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, the state awarded the first 2 million people vaccinated since May 27, 2021, with $50 grocery cards.
The cash incentives were announced by Governor Gavin Newsom to encourage more Californians to get vaccinated and reward those who already had. The total prize money for the "Vax for the Win" program was $116.5 million.
It's important to note that winners of the lottery in California will remain anonymous unless they choose to publicize their winnings.
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Where does the prize money come from?
The prize money for California's COVID-19 vaccine lottery, "Vax for the Win", comes from California's general fund. The state expects to replenish the fund with federal COVID-19 relief funding. The total prize money for the lottery was $116 million, with 10 people winning $1.5 million each, and 30 people winning $50,000 each.
The lottery was announced by Governor Gavin Newsom as an incentive to push more Californians to get the COVID-19 vaccine and reward those who were already vaccinated. The first "Vax for the Win" drawing was held on June 4, 2021, when 15 people were awarded $50,000 each. Another 15 people were selected to win $50,000 on June 11, 2021. The grand prize winners were announced on June 15, 2021, with 10 people winning $1.5 million each.
California residents who were 12 years or older and had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine were automatically entered into the lottery. Winners were notified by the California Department of Public Health, and their names were not made public during the drawings. Winners had the option to decline the prize or choose to keep their names anonymous. Incarcerated people and certain public employees were not eligible for the lottery.
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What are the odds of winning?
The odds of winning California's vaccine lottery are about 1 in 2.2 million. With 22 million vaccinated Californians and ten $1.5 million prizes, the odds are substantially better than the odds of winning Mega Millions, which is about 1 in 300 million.
The California Lottery will randomly pick 10 winners using numerical identifiers. The drawing will be conducted using standard practices applicable to drawings that ensure randomness and integrity. The lottery will then send the selected numbers back to public health officials, who will identify the names of the winners and contact them. The random drawing will also include a selection of alternates in case the selected persons decline the prizes, are ineligible, or cannot be contacted.
Winners' names will remain anonymous unless they choose to publicize their windfall. Winners will have 96 hours to claim their prizes before the state draws alternate winners. Winners can be identified to the public following their selection, but only if they give permission to the state to release their name.
It is important to note that getting vaccinated beyond the recommended regimen will not boost a resident's odds of winning. Additionally, individuals can only win one prize.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, as long as you are 12 or older, you will be automatically entered into all the drawings if you have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. If the winner is a minor, the funds will be put into savings, which they can access once they turn 18.
Yes, state officials say that immigration status does not affect eligibility.
No, employees of the California Department of Public Health, the California State Lottery, the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Government Operations Agency, and the Office of the Governor, and their immediate families, are not eligible.
