Michigan to announce $5 million vaccine lottery

Michigan is the latest state slated to begin a lottery program to incentivize receiving a coronavirus vaccine for residents of the state. 

The program, dubbed the MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes, will award a total of more than $5 million in cash and nine college scholarships worth $55,000 apiece, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is expected to announce the program on Thursday. 

Residents 18 and older who have already received a coronavirus vaccine will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes. Young people between 12 and 17 will be eligible for one of nine Michigan Education Trust Charitable Tuition Program four-year contracts valued at $55,000. 

Vaccination rates in Michigan, like many other states across the country, have slowed in recent weeks, with 43,250 people getting first doses and 85,456 getting second doses — a decline of 89.2 percent and 69 percent, respectively, the Free Press reported. 

Other states such as Ohio, Oregon, New York and Maryland have started their own vaccine lottery programs. 

“From the data we’ve seen, they appear to be working,” Andy Slavitt, the White House senior adviser for COVID-19 response, said of the programs during a press briefing last month. 

Sixty-six percent of American adults have reportedly been partially vaccinated against the coronavirus, a total that falls short of President Biden‘s stated goal of 70 percent by July 4.