Read the video transcript here
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California:
“On June 15th we will be giving away an additional $ 15 million. $ 1.5 million each for ten people. "
What do you have to do to take part in this California lottery?
Just provide proof of at least one Covid vaccination.
And the chance of a big win beckons.
It is by no means the first attempt by the USA to motivate its citizens to get vaccinated.
Almost half of the population has been vaccinated for the first time, and almost 40 percent are fully protected.
But while in Germany there are still many people who were longing for the first appointment, despite the significantly increased vaccination rate, in the USA the supply is now exceeding the demand.
And so the ideas
to make
vaccination
even
more attractive became more and more extreme.
Already in March it was valid nationwide: Anyone who presents a vaccination certificate receives a free donut - the offer runs all year round.
In some places like here in Washington, there was a beer instead of a vaccination.
You could also get a joint in Washington.
Adam Eidinger, cannabis activist:
"If you believe that it has been scientifically proven that cannabis is safe, then you have to believe that the vaccination is safe."
There were other offers, for example baseball tickets, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio advertised free fries.
And then money came into play.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice retrospectively issued government bonds to young people who are being vaccinated.
Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia:
“We're trying something new. It's a new approach to marketing. It works, but it's not a silver bullet. We will continue to do everything we can to vaccinate people. And we're working to ensure that 70 percent of our population is vaccinated. "
The total cost around $ 27.5 million.
Ohio started the "Vax-a-Million" campaign.
Announcement of the winner:
»Abbigail Bugenske from Silverton - congratulations! You just won $ 1 million in the Vax A Million Sweepstakes. What an evening for you! "
Here five winners will each receive one million euros.
In addition, scholarships for elite universities are being raffled off.
Announcement of the Winner:
"You have just won a four-year scholarship to a public university in Ohio."
Other states also started competitions, now California too.
The biggest win here is the aforementioned $ 1.5 million.
But there should also be many smaller gifts.
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California:
“Today we announce that we are putting aside two million gift cards. They go to people who want to be vaccinated - according to the motto "first come, first served". This applies from today in the state of California. "
The cost of the entire vaccination motivation package in California: 116.5 million US dollars, or around 95 million euros.