Here’s who is eligible for California’s $1.5 million vaccine lottery prizes and a $50 gift card
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced a $116.5 million effort — including a $16.5 million lottery — to nudge more Californians to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Here’s what you need to know:
What’s the prize?
Vaccinated Californians will be eligible for three types of prizes:
- Ten people will receive $1.5 million.
- Thirty people will receive $50,000.
- The next 2 million people who begin and complete their COVID-19 vaccination will be eligible to receive a $50 prepaid or grocery card. There are three choices for the card: A gift card to Kroger (Foods Co., Ralphs, Food 4 Less), a gift card to Albertsons (Safeway, Vons, Pavilions) or a prepaid MasterCard added to your phone mobile wallet.
How can I become eligible?
For the $1.5 million and $50,000 prizes, Californians need to have at least one shot of the vaccine by the date of the drawing. The money will also only be paid if the winners complete their vaccination. You must live in California and be aged 12 and older — for the minors, the prizes will be held in a savings account until they turn 18.
Undocumented Californians as well as other non-citizens are also eligible. Incarcerated people and those working for the California Department of Public Health, the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Government Operations Agency, and the Office of the Governor and the California State Lottery are not eligible, however. Those workers’ immediate families are also not eligible.
CDPH has also noted that it will have the sole discretion to decide whether someone is a resident of California for the purpose of the lottery.
California prison workers are eligible for the lottery, despite the fact that they have their own incentives.
There’s nothing you need to do, other than being vaccinated, to be eligible for those prizes. The winners will be notified by public health officials.
For the $50 gift cards, you must start your vaccination on or after Thursday, May 27, at any site in California (except certain federal facilities). You’ll get a redemption code by text or email within seven to 10 days after your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna, or your first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The code must be used within 90 days.
If you are younger than 18, you need to have a parent or guardian complete the process for you unless you are emancipated.
If you don’t have a phone or email, you can call 1-833-993-3873 to receive a physical card.
When’s the drawing?
The drawing for the $1.5 million prizes is on Tuesday, June 15, when the state expects to lift nearly all of its restrictions.
The drawing for the $50,000 prizes is on Friday, June 4, and Friday, June 11.
What are my odds of winning the jackpot?
With more than 22 million Californians having at least one shot as of Thursday, the odds of winning $1.5 million stands at 1 in 2.2 million. By contrast, the odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 302 million.
This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Here’s who is eligible for California’s $1.5 million vaccine lottery prizes and a $50 gift card."
