West Virginia attracts people with shotguns and pick-ups for Covid vaccination

The US state West Virginia wants to get more people to vaccinate with a lottery. In addition to cash prizes and grants, there are also weapons and heavy cars to be won.

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After a strong start in the United States, the speed of vaccinations has slowed significantly in many places. Some states are now looking to counter this trend with vaccination lotteries. West Virginia attracts with guns and cars. “The faster we get people across the finish line, the more lives we will save,” said Republican Governor Jim Justice when announcing the program on Tuesday.

Accordingly, fully vaccinated people aged 16 and over can register for the lottery. From June 20th, prizes will be raffled among the participants every week. There is just under 1.6 million dollars for the main prize and 590,000 for second place to be won. In addition, scholarships to universities in West Virginia are being raffled, as are weekend vacations to the state’s parks and lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

What the state also lures with: weapons and heavy cars. The participants in the vaccination lottery can hope for five custom-made hunting shotguns and five hunting rifles as well as two pick-up trucks.

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Jim Justice: Prizes in addition to saving lives

“The awards are in addition to trying to save your life,” affirmed Governor Jim Justice. “All the people in hospitals, in intensive care units, all of our dead are – for the most part – people who haven’t been vaccinated. I don’t know how to explain it any more simply than that.” Justice also referred to the cost in the state’s hospitals. “If the bill just keeps going, the costs will be enormous.”

The Republican wants to meet vaccination goals he has set himself by June 20, West Virginia’s 158th birthday. By then, 65 percent of all eligible citizens, 75 percent of citizens over 50 and 85 percent of citizens over 65 should have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Swell: West Virginia Governor’s Office / National Public Radio / CBS News / Fox News

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