On Wednesday, July 21, a press conference at the State Capitol was held by Governor Mike Parson to announce the launch of a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program, MO VIP.
The campaign is intended to encourage individuals ages 12 and up to get vaccinated, boosting the state's overall immunization efforts.
Governor Parson expressed his understanding for Missourians' hesitation to receive the vaccine, but explained it is the responsibility of all Missourians to protect their friends, family, and the overall greater population.
"This new program will complement our existing efforts to educate Missourians about the importance of getting the vaccine. Our current COVID-19 situation is serious. This Delta variant transmits faster than what we have previously seen and is more likely to impact children and the unvaccinated, so now is the perfect opportunity to get vaccinated and earn your shot at $10,000," said Parson.
Missouri has remained one of the states with the lowest COVID-19 case rates, but recently traces of the Delta variant were found within the state and due to its high level of transmissibility, it quickly became the dominant strain in the state and nation.
Over the next three months, 900 Missourians who have already been vaccinated, or are choosing to get vaccinated will win cash or education savings prizes in the amount of $10,000.
Drawings will occur every two weeks, starting with the first on August 13, and the final drawing scheduled for October 8.
Once Missouri residents receive a dose, they become eligible to enter the sweepstakes at MOStopsCovid.com/win. Once entered, their entry will be carried over through all the drawings.
To meet the drawing requirements, individuals must be a living citizen of the United States and a permanent resident of the State of Missouri, be age 12 or older, and have received at least the first COVID-19 vaccination of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the singular dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, prior to the drawing date.
Entries will be divided into categories red, white and blue. Red, containing Missourians age 18 and up receiving at least one dose of vaccine after July 21, White being Missourians age 18 and up receiving at least one dose of vaccine before July 21, and Blue occupying Missourians ages 12 to 17 receiving at least one dose of vaccine at any time.
Eighty winners will be randomly selected during each drawing from the Red and White categories, and will each be awarded a cash prize of $10,000. For every drawing, 20 adolescents from the Blue category will be randomly selected to receive a $10,000 education savings account through the Missouri State Treasurer’s MOST 529 program.
To allow time for records and eligibility to be verified, confirmed winners will be announced two weeks following each drawing. Entries will be accepted online until 11:59 p.m. two days prior to each drawing.
Additionally, local public health agencies that administer COVID-19 vaccines will now be eligible to provide a financial incentive of up to $25 for each vaccine recipient, up to a total of $11 million. This program would provide incentives for administrators to pass along to recipients for 440,000 vaccines administered across Missouri and would sunset on December 31, 2021.
For more information on official rules, frequently asked questions, and a program timeline Individuals can visit MOStopsCovid.com/win.
