Ohioans age 12 to 25 can enter to win a $10,000 or $100,000 scholarship for getting vaccinated starting Monday, but there's not yet a timetable for when winners will be chosen.
The "Vax-2-School" drawing will give away five $100,000 scholarships and 150 $10,000 scholarships, a total of $2 million in prizes, to Ohioans under age 26. The money will be awarded in 529 college savings plans and can be used for college or career education.
The incentive comes at a time in the pandemic when younger Ohioans are comprising a greater proportion of cases and hospitalizations than any other point, according to Ohio Hospital Association data. Meanwhile, hospitalizations among those age 60 and older are lower than the winter surge – about 80% of that age group is fully vaccinated.
Vax-2-School is the second statewide contest intended to boost vaccination rates. June's Vax-a-Million contest drew more than 3 million entries for five $1 million prizes. Ohio saw an initial boost in first doses in the two weeks following the announcement but the trend didn't last. Studies have had mixed results, with the consensus being that lotteries can't be the only tool officials use to encourage vaccination.
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff and Ohio Lottery Commission Director Pat McDonald announced details of the contest Friday. Here's what you need to know.
Who is eligible?
The drawing is open to Ohioans age 12 to 25 who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Details about people who are ineligible to enter were not available Friday. The Ohio Department of Health will verify winners' vaccination status.
More than 370,000 Ohioans age 12 to 17 – about 42% of that age group – have already started a vaccine. Nationally, almost 13 million in that age group have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
If the federal Food and Drug Administration authorizes the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children age 5 to 11, they will also be eligible for the contest.
“It seemed given how close it appears we likely are to 5- to 11-year-olds having the opportunity to be vaccinated, it really seemed prudent and right to give them the chance to participate,” Vanderhoff said.
How to sign up for Vax-2-School
Sign-ups begin Monday, Oct. 4. Entries from the Vax-a-Million contest will not carry over. Participants must sign up for the drawing, either at ohiovax2school.com or by calling 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). For children under 18, parents or guardians must sign them up.
When will the prizes be awarded?
The governor's office previously said scholarships would be awarded from Oct. 11 to 15. However, dates have been pushed back to allow time for authorization for younger children – two weeks after that age group becomes eligible for a shot.
Vanderhoff said prizes will be awarded no later than Dec. 31.
How will winners be chosen?
The Ohio Lottery Commission will conduct the drawing using a random number generator, similar to how winners were chosen for the Vax-a-Million contest.
What can the scholarships be used for?
The money will be awarded in 529 college savings plans. There are federal rules for spending money from such accounts. But generally, they can be used to pay for tuition, books, supplies, room and board related to college or career education. Up to $10,000 can be spent to repay student loans.
Jackie Borchardt is the bureau chief for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
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