Thanks to a new lottery launching on Monday, there are now many unknown reasons — well, $4.1 million — to roll up your sleeve. Australians now really have a million reasons to get vaccinated against coronavirus – well, $4.1 million; from Monday, the Million Dollar Vax Campaign will give any double-jabbed Aussie a chance to win a million dollars and one of 3100 $1000 gift cards which will be given away daily over the next month.
The Million Dollar Vax Alliance created the prizes and campaign based on similar successful lotteries held in the United States. The alliance describes itself as a “group of philanthropists and corporations to increase Australian COVID-19 vaccination rates above 80 percent nationally as quickly as possible in a safe manner”.
The 1 million dollar prize will be drawn on November 5 with all Australians over 18 who have been fully vaccinated or will receive both jabs within six weeks of the draw date eligible to enter. Million Dollar Vax Alliance’s Craig Winkler stressed that the prize pool was not supposed to “convince people to be vaccinated” but act as a “reward”. (Vaccination is) a decision you should make in consultation with a health professional,” Mr. Winkler, who co-founded MYOB, said in a statement.
The promotion seeks to reward people who decide to be vaccinated now rather than waiting so that we can reduce the community impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about the campaign on Sunday, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews gave it the thumbs up. “I’m not fussed about what motivates you – whether it is for your health and to help the people you love, to protect our health system and our nurses, or to win $1 million,” he said, according to 9 News.
Just go and get vaccinated.
It’s not the only vaccine incentive being offered – last month, Deliveroo partnered with Hungry Jacks to provide its customers free large fries with their orders the weekend after their state reached its 60 percent double jabbed milestone. Deliveroo’s head of consumer communications, Joe Satari, said the food delivery service recognized that a “successful vaccination rollout is crucial to get us back doing all the things we love”.
Qantas is giving double-jabbed Australian frequent flyers over 18 a special reward through the Qantas app – a choice of 1000 Qantas Points, 15 status credits, or a $20 flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar. In addition, members will be automatically entered into a mega prize draw, where ten winners will receive a year’s worth of flights, accommodation, and fuel, including international destinations, when the borders open. At Telstra, from late September, fully vaccinated members of the company’s loyalty program could receive 2500 Telstra Plus Points, then go into a 100 million point prize draw. Twenty people would receive five million points each and up to $3500 credit – enough to cover the cost of their eligible Telstra services for a year. For more information on the Million Dollar Vax campaign or to enter, visit here.
