Ohio reports higher vaccination rate after announcing lottery for shots

Ohio’s lottery for people who have been vaccinated has led to increased vaccination rates in the state.

Health officials in the state announced on Monday that over 25,400 shots of the coronavirus vaccine were administered to residents Friday, marking the highest vaccination day in three weeks, according to NBC News.

The news comes just two days after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced that the state would be giving away $5 million in a lottery meant to encourage vaccinations. 

“Not only have we achieved our goal of increasing public awareness and interest, but we have slowed what was a consistent decline, and in certain age groups we’re seeing an increase again,” state Health Director Stephanie McCloud told NBC. “This is doing exactly what we intended it to do.”

The state has seen a 6 percent increase in vaccinations among residents ages 30 to 74. Vaccination numbers among that age group had previously shown a steady decline, NBC reported.

“We were really encouraged by those numbers. We have really struggled with that age range [30-74] in the state of Ohio,” said Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO of the Ohio chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “I think it’s wonderful that it gave people a second thought.”

State officials predicted that vaccination numbers from this week will be available by the weekend, NBC News reported.

Under DeWine’s lottery initiative, residents 18 and older who have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine will be entered into a lottery to win $1 million. The state will hold a total of five weekly drawings, in which each week a winner will take home $1 million.

Ohioans who are under 18 and get vaccinated will have the opportunity to be entered to win a four-year full scholarship to any of Ohio’s state colleges and universities, including full tuition, room and board.

“The governor remains optimistic about the early indicators,” DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney told NBC News. “The curve is now trending in the other direction as far as where we were heading. We hope that continues.”