(Image via Governor Jay Inslee)
YOU get an Xbox! YOU get an echo! YOU get a switch! … But did you get a shot?
Stand aside, Oprah. Washington Governor Jay Inslee is playing the giveaway as part of a plan to encourage people in the state to get their COVID-19 vaccination.
Awards from some of the state’s leading tech companies include more than $ 2 million in cash and gifts that Washington will be giving away this month as part of its “Shot of a Lifetime” promotional event.
To get a vaccination baseline of 70% of eligible adults in the state, Washington is currently around 63% for those ages 16 and older who received at least one vaccination. The state is slated to fully reopen on June 30, or when the percentage hits 70%, whichever comes first.
Working with tech companies, sports teams, higher education institutions, government agencies, and others, Inslee is following the lead of other states, agencies, and corporations who are dangling everything from free donuts and beer to free guns and million dollar lotteries to make people do that to bring come with it.
“These generous programs will encourage more Washingtoners to take this life-saving vaccine,” Inslee said Thursday.
For the tech freaks, game systems and intelligent speakers are offered, including 300 Xboxs and GamePasses from Microsoft; 100 echo points from Amazon; 25 Google nests; and an unknown number of Nintendo Switch game consoles.
Among the other articles:
- One drawing per week for a cash prize of $ 250,000 for four weeks, with an additional final drawing for a prize of $ 1 million.
- University prices including free tuition and help with books.
- Tickets for everything from Alaska Airlines flights to Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, Storm, Reign and Kraken games.
- Gift cards including 80 Washington State Parks “One Week of Free Camping” cards worth $ 250 each.
All vaccine incentive prizes are drawn from the Department of Health’s vaccination database to determine winners, according to the governor’s office. “The only thing Washingtonians must take to win any of the awards is to get vaccinated. Anyone who has previously been vaccinated is eligible. “