A million (dollar) reasons to get the COVID jab

With many Australians waiting for the right time to get the vaccination, a new million-dollar vaccine lottery might be the incentive they need to get the jab sooner rather than later. 

Philanthropists have joined together with big business to give fully vaccinated Australians the opportunity to win a million dollars, as part of a philanthropic lottery. 

The Million Dollar Vax competition, which launched on Monday, will be giving away a pool of prizes worth $4.1 million throughout the month of October.  

These include 100 x $1,000 gift cards given away daily throughout October and a $1 million cash prize, the winner of which will be announced on 5 November. 

The campaign has been created by the Million Dollar Vax Alliance, a group of Australian philanthropists and corporations, with the aim of driving the country’s vaccination rates above 80 per cent as quickly as possible. 

Jack Heath, Philanthropy Australia CEO, said that the campaign represented strategic philanthropy in action. 

“[It’s] a collaborative, targeted intervention that will save lives, ease the burden on healthcare workers, and benefit the wider community,” he said. 

Craig Winkler, co-founder of software firm MYOB and part of the Million Dollar Vax Alliance, said that the purpose of the campaign wasn’t to convince people to be vaccinated, a decision he said should be made in consultation with a health professional, but instead to encourage people to get vaccinated as soon as possible. 

“The aim is to accelerate Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program in a safe way throughout the month of October,” Winkler said.  

“The faster we reach higher vaccination rates nationally, higher than 80 per cent, the sooner we can all safely resume our full range of community and business activities.” 

The hope is that Million Dollar Vax will see the same level of success as Ohio’s Vax-A-Million campaign in the United States, which is said to have contributed to an increase in vaccine take-up and made five Americans millionaires overnight. 

The Million Dollar Vax campaign is just one in an ever-growing list of vaccine incentives being rolled out across the country. Qantas, Virgin and Luxury Escapes are just a few of the organisations keen to reward Aussies to get the vaccine. 

Entry into the Million Dollar Vax is eligible for any Australian resident aged 18 or over who receives at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot on or before 31 October. To be eligible to receive prizes, entrants must be fully vaccinated by 13 December.

You can enter the draw here.