LOS ANGELES — As many celebrate the Golden State's reopening, 10 people could end the day especially happy.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the grand prize drawing for the "Vax for the Win" program Tuesday morning. The $15 million pot was split between 10 Californians, who will walk away with $1.5 million.
After a successful drawing on June 15 that saw winners from up and down the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom was joined by Helen Cordova, the first person vaccinate in California, and Scott Evans with Access Hollywood to determine which counties were the next lucky 10 winners. One Sacramento County resident and one Stanislaus County resident was selected to receive $1.5 million.
The other eight winners were selected from counties from the Bay Area and Southern California:
- Los Angeles County (4 winners)
- Marin County
- Riverside County
- Santa Barbra County
- Ventura County
The winners need to be prepared to answer a phone call in the next 96 hours to claim their winnings. If the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) cannot reach the winner, the $1.5 million prize money will go to an alternate person who is also randomly selected.
All residents age 12 and over who are at least partially vaccinated are automatically eligible for the vaccine drawings. As of June 14, roughly 66% of Californians older than 12 have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
Last week, Newsom announced the second and final round of $50,000 prizes through California's "Vax for the Win" vaccine incentive program. In all, 30 people were selected and won $50,000. Additionally, the program is providing $100 million in $50 prepaid or grocery cards for 2 million newly vaccinated people, while supplies last.
The governor has also announced more incentives with Taco Bell, Chipotle, and California sports teams that take place on Tuesday, June 15, as a way to get more people vaccinated.
On July 1, another lottery-type drawing will take place for a series of 6 "dream vacation" packages within the state of California. Trips to San Francisco, San Diego, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs, plus $2,000 for travel, are up for grabs with "California Dream Vacations" prizes.
READ MORE ABOUT THE STATE REOPENING:
- California Reopens: What you need to know for the state's move away from pandemic restrictions
- Sacramento flexing tourism muscle with World's Strongest Man Competition
- How Sacramento hotels believe the state's reopening will help bring them back to life
- Disneyland no longer requiring masks for fully-vaccinated guests starting June 15
- As California reopens, 6 things you need to know about COVID-19 | CalMatters
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