If you are waiting to get the vaccine to stop COVID-19 you could become very rich, with the Federal Health Department’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly not ruling out copying the actions of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
Mr DeWine’s first ‘Vax-a-Million’ Lottery draw saw 2.7 million vaccinated people enter and Abbigail Bugenske of Silverton, near Cincinnati, declared the draw’s first millionaire. DeWine also awarded a college scholarship to Joseph Costello from Englewood, near Dayton. Ohio is giving away a total of $5 million, along with five full-ride college or university scholarships.
Professor Kelly was pressed by reporters on offering incentives to increase the rate of vaccinations.
“I think all of these things are potentially on the table,” he replied.
“But I think the main incentive is the one I have mentioned many times, about protecting your own health, not sitting there, waiting for an outbreak.”
It’s a little late for the people of Whittlesea, 57km from Melbourne CBD, although the Morrison Government on Thursday sent 130,000 doses of vaccine to the area.
This was before Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino announced the state’s fourth lockdown – this one initially for seven days – with only five reasons people can leave their home and a 5km travel radius imposed again. Masks are mandatory everywhere outside of the home – indoors and outdoors.
However, given the frantic rush on vaccinations after Melbourne’s outbreak, the incentives may not be needed.
