COVID-19 vaccine lottery winners say there are more reasons to get immunized than a $100K prize
Total of $1.9 million in cash and scholarships to be given out over 2 draws
Kerry Maskiew's decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine didn't hinge on the chance to win $100,000, but that is exactly what he and six other vaccinated Manitobans received Tuesday.
He was motivated by concern for the health of his wife, who has had a stroke, and for his mother, who lived in a personal care home at the time.
"We're part of a larger community, of course, and you want to protect yourself and not be responsible for anybody else catching COVID," said Maskiew, a Winnipegger.
Manitoba announced seven $100,000 vaccine lottery winners on Tuesday — three in the Winnipeg health region and one each in the Southern, Prairie Mountain, Interlake-Eastern and Northern health regions. The winners of 10 $25,000 scholarships for people age 12-17 will be announced on Aug. 23.
The provincial government launched the lottery in June as part of its efforts to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
In total, $1.9 million in cash and scholarships will be given out over the course of the lottery, which has two parts.
To qualify for the first set of draws, people had to get their first dose by Aug. 2.
People 18 and older were automatically entered to win one of three $100,000 prizes in the Winnipeg health region and one prize of the same amount in each of the province's other health regions. Those age 12 to 17 were entered to win one of 10 $25,000 scholarships.
There will be a second draw for everyone who gets a second dose by Sept. 6. The date for that draw has not been set.
Lottery winners who spoke at the news conference Tuesday encouraged those who haven't already received a vaccine to get their shots.
WATCH | Winner has message for Manitobans:
Winner Trent Fingler, from Winnipeg, said he felt frustrated by misinformation about the vaccines.
"Please just understand that vaccines are safe and necessary, and the faster you can [get vaccinated] and have your own peace of mind, the faster we can move forward."
The other five winners are Garth Deleske from the Winnipeg health region, Jacqueline Martel from the Southern Health region, John Lyons from the Prairie Mountain Health region, Dustin McDuffe from the Interlake-Eastern health region and Bernell Lavallee from the Northern Health Region.
Under its "4-3-2-One Great Summer" plan, the province set a goal of having 80 per cent of eligible Manitobans with their first shot and 75 per cent with two shots by Labour Day in September, which it said would trigger widespread reopenings.
However, the province allowed most businesses to fully reopen and eliminated mask mandates on Aug. 7, a month early and before the two-dose target was met.
As of Tuesday, 81 per cent of eligible Manitobans had at least one shot, and 74.4 per cent had two.
WATCH | Seven Manitobans receive $100,000 vaccine lottery prizes:
