CHARLESTON, WV – Republican Gov. Jim Justice and members of the West Virginia COVID-19 pandemic response leadership team held another news briefing today to update the public on the State’s latest pandemic response efforts.
During Tuesday’s briefing, Gov. Justice provided additional details on his new vaccine incentive lottery that will begin on June 20th and run through August 4th.
The giveaway will include a $1.588 million grand prize, a $588,000 second prize, full scholarships to any higher education institution in West Virginia, custom-outfitted trucks, weekend vacations at state parks, lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, custom hunting rifles and custom hunting shotguns.
Gov. Justice said the push to get more West Virginians vaccinated is crucial in not only saving lives, but saving the state from the financial impact of continued hospitalizations and prolonged vaccine clinics.
“The faster we get people across the finish line the more lives we save. That’s all there is to it,” Gov. Justice said. “If the tab just keeps running the cost is enormous. The hospitalizations are enormous. We have to get all of our folks across the finish line.”
West Virginians who have been fully vaccinated will need to register to be entered to win the prizes. A registration website will soon be available and will be announced by the Governor at a press briefing.
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Justice announced that once again West Virginia’s general revenue collections came in above estimates.
The month of May 2021 came in with a $152.2 million surplus, despite the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the state’s economy. Year-to-date, general revenue collections are $389.6 million above estimates.
“This is so profound,” said Gov. Justice. “This should be the number one thing that we are carrying through the streets by reporting the health and goodness that is going on in West Virginia.”
All West Virginians ages 16-35 who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now able to register online to receive either a $100 savings bond or a $100 gift card.
The $100 incentive is retroactive, meaning all West Virginians ages 16-35 who have received the COVID-19 vaccine at any point are eligible.
Since registration first opened, a grand total of 20,527 registrations have been submitted.
