West Virginia Plans To Boost Its Vaccine Incentive Program By Offering Guns, Trucks, Money, and More

Gov. Jim Justice stated on Tuesday that West Virginia would boost its vaccine incentive program to get more individuals immunized against the coronavirus.

In addition to a $1.588 million grand prize, all citizens who receive the COVID-19 vaccine will be entered into a drawing for college tuition, custom vehicles, and hunting rifles. The program will be funded by federal pandemic relief funding and run from June 20 to August 4.

“The faster we get people across the finish line, the more lives we save. That’s all there is to it,” Justice said. “If the tab just keeps running, the cost is enormous. The hospitalizations are enormous. We have to get all of our folks across the finish line.”

In April, Justice announced that West Virginians aged 16 to 35 who were vaccinated would be eligible for a $100 savings bond. After a good early start, the state’s immunization effort has recently dropped dramatically.

According to the state, 51.1 percent of West Virginians have got at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Justice hopes that the state’s new incentives, including a $588,000 second prize, weekend trips to state parks, lifelong hunting, fishing permits, and customized hunting shotguns, will increase the number of people who participate.

West Virginians who have received all of their vaccines must register to be eligible to win the newly announced rewards at a later date.

The vaccine incentive program has taken off across the country as governors try to persuade individuals hesitant to get vaccinated.

As of Tuesday night, 40.9 percent of the population had been properly vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By July 4, President Joe Biden wants at least 70% of the adult population in the United States to have received one vaccine shot and 160 million adults to be fully immunized.