Alaska launches $ 49,000 prize pool to promote COVID-19 vaccines

The State of Alaska and the Alaska House have launched a program to encourage Alaska to be vaccinated against COVID-19, awarding prizes of $ 49,000 per person to a newly vaccinated adult and youth each week until 30 p.m. ‘October.

A one-time $ 49,000 prize will also be awarded to an Alaskan adult and youth who were vaccinated before Sept. 2, the House said Thursday.

“We call on Alaska to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect our economy and give Alaska a shot at recovery,” House Speaker Kati Capozzi said in a prepared statement.

You can find more details about the program at giveakashot.com.

The $ 1 million used to pay for the campaign comes from funding from the federal CARES Act a grant from the State Department of Health and Social Services to the Alaska Chamber of Deputies. The program is administered by the House.

Lotteries have been tested to encourage vaccines in other states, with mixed results. Some states reported that they caused an increase in vaccinations. Others, such as Arkansas, said they did not provide expected results.

[Anchorage School District had no plans to report COVID-19 cases by school. That changed this week.]

Qualified entrants must be vaccinated from Alaska with a COVID-19 shot in Alaska the week before each draw. Previously vaccinated Alaska can register from today. Winners who were previously vaccinated will receive the $ 49,000 prize in the last week of the program.

Entries for the first group of newly vaccinated people must be submitted by September 11 and the first announcement of the winners will be on September 16. The program begins today, September 2nd.

Participants must submit basic information to the secure website, including their name, state of residence, and information about their shot.

Winners will be randomly selected from two age groups, those from Alaska 18 years and older and those between 12 and 17 years old.

The largest group will earn cash. The younger group will receive $ 49,000 through the Alaska 529 Education Savings Plan, where the money is invested in the child’s education. Parents or guardians of young winners will also receive $ 10,000 in cash if they are vaccinated.

“It is up to the person to enter in a timely manner so as not to miss the weekly draw for which they are eligible; tickets are accepted and valid only for the week they received the COVID-19 vaccine, ”the House said in a statement.

On Wednesday, COVID-19 cases in Alaska reached the second highest daily record in history, 801, as the highly contagious delta variant causes a resurgence of cases across the state. COVID-19 hospitalizations are also reaching record highs.

[Alaska reports 801 COVID-19 cases and a new record for hospitalizations]

Alaskan businessmen have expressed concern that the increase in the number of cases could lead to new restrictions on businesses, restricting restaurants, shops and other businesses that remain struggling to recover from the shocks related to last year’s pandemic.

The state health department said the goal of the grant was to create a vaccine incentive campaign, said Heidi Hedberg, director of the Alaska Public Health Division.

Capozzi said the House set the parameters of the program in light of this orientation.

“We felt like in the spirit and purpose of the grant, we had to make sure we concentrated most of the funds on people who weren’t vaccinated yet, but we still wanted to give every Alaska person the chance to be vaccinated. would have a chance to win, ”Capozzi said.

Hedberg said the grant is a follow-up to the $ 1 million grant the state health department provided to the Alaska House in the spring. It was distributed to local chambers that offered prizes to encourage vaccines, he said. This resulted in successful community-based programs, such as gift certificates provided at the Blueberry Arts summer festival in Ketchikan, Hedberg said.

The new program is another “evolution” in the way the state should approach it the need to increase vaccination rates, Hedberg said.

“This is one more step toward the Alaska meetings where they are, to provide a motivator,” he said. “Some people just need to have that extra motivation.”

Hedberg said Alaskans who need treatment for everything from cancer to broken bones to preventative care have delayed care because of the stress COVID-19 puts on the health care system.

“This is not necessary, but for those who are on the fence, I ask you today to get vaccinated,” Hedberg said. “Our healthcare system is tied up. The delta variable is highly transmissible. It’s sweeping our state and we all need Alaska to get vaccinated. “

The number of vaccines in the state has increased recently. Unvaccinated people have an increased risk of serious infection, health officials say

The vaccination rate in Alaska, which was the first in the United States, is now 32nd. As of Thursday, 61% of Alaskans 12 years of age or older had received at least one dose of vaccine and 55% considered themselves completely vaccinated.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that previously vaccinated Alaska people can enroll in the program last week. The award to which previously vaccinated Alaska could enroll will be given in the last week of the program, but all vaccinated Alaska can enroll in the program now.