State, county using prizes as vaccine incentive

The private and public sector, both statewide and locally, are banning together to incentivize higher vaccine rates among people.

To encourage Washington residents to get vaccinated, the Washington State Lottery is giving out prizes to anyone who has received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

No application is necessary. If you’ve already received a dose, you are already entered to win.

The prizes for participants ages 18 and up consist of four drawings of $250,000 and one drawing on the fifth week of $1 million. The Tuesday drawing dates are June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29, and July 13.

For youth ages 12-17 with at least one dose of the vaccine, 30 Guaranteed Education Tuition plans (GET) will be awarded that amount to one year of college tuition. About $1 million will also be given to higher education to run drawings for free tuition and expenses.

Fifteen GET awards will be announced on June 15 and 15 GET awards will be given on June 22.

Alaska Airlines and Seattle sports teams will have ticket prizes for fights and games. Technology companies will be giving away prizes. Microsoft will give out 300 Xboxs and GamePasses, Nintendo will give out Nintendo Switches, Google will give out 25 Google Nests and Amazon will give out 100 Echo Dots, according to the governor’s office.

Gift cards to local businesses will be given at vaccine locations through the Washington State Department of Commerce and Association of Washington Business. The state Department of Health will give out $500,000 in gift cards, Washington State Parks will give out 80 gift cards for one week of free camping, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will give out 80 $100 gift certificates for fishing and hunting licenses, and 400 Discover Passes will be handed out.

Participants can only win one prize and must call a Washington State Lottery representative within 72 hours.

Proof of Washington residency is required to obtain the items, but proof of citizenship is not, according to the governor’s office.

The sooner people get vaccinated, the sooner they will be included in the draw.

Get vaccinated and win a vehicle in Whatcom County

Whatcom County residents 18 and up who receive their first Covid-19 vaccine between June 1 and July 31 are eligible to win any vehicle, as long as it doesn’t exceed $60,000, Chuckanut Health Foundation announced June 3.

Chuckanut Health Foundation, Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and Whatcom County Health Department are organizing the drawing, with registration opening Tuesday, June 15. Vaccination proof isn’t required when entering the drawing and people don’t need to be fully vaccinated by the drawing date, but the car will only be awarded after the winner is fully vaccinated.

Joints for Jabs

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is providing a temporary license for cannabis retailers to hand out one pre-roll joint to people vaccinated at their cannabis store. The license is effective June 7 to July 12 and joints will only be given to those 21 years of age or older.