'Whatever it takes': Albertans encouraged by COVID-19 vaccine lottery to push life back to normal
Getting a COVID-19 shot in Alberta will soon be your 'shot' at winning upwards of $1 million plus a number of other prizes.
Premier Jason Kenney took to Twitter Saturday evening to launch Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccination lottery in an effort to bolster immunization and reach the 70 per cent first dose threshold needed to move to Stage 3 of the reopening plan.
Canada Research Chair of Health Law & Policy at the University of Alberta, Timothy Caulfield, says the latest initiative for a vaccine lottery comes at a much-needed time.
“It’s crunch time and we’re really seeing a drop in interest for vaccines, especially for that first vaccine, we’re hitting the complacency and the hesitancy hurdles.”
“I think the government should however do even more to fight the misinformation out there that’s spreading about vaccines because we know that’s having an impact and we have to come at this hesitancy and complacency from absolutely every angle.”
The news of a COVID-19 vaccine lottery is welcome for people like Ravinder Greywall from Calgary, who just heard about the initiative as she was walking in for her second dose on Sunday.
“What? That’s pretty crazy! I think we all need it for the herd immunity so if that’s one thing that pushes people, more people to get back to the vaccine it will help us get back to normal.”
Other Calgarians like Karen Bruce also agree that a vaccine lottery is a valuable investment.
“Whatever it takes so that we can get opened up again,” Bruce said.
“I think it’s a great idea, I think it encourages people like it did in the states to get the shot and it looks like it’s working so why don’t we get those people doing it and if you can put your name in for a lottery then why not?”
According to the premier, the lottery will comprise of three $1 million prize draws among other winnings. The first draw will be open to all Albertans aged 18 and over who receive their first dose prior to reaching the 70 per cent threshold.
As of June 12, there are 64,535 appointments booked over the next seven days for first doses, which means Alberta is projected to hit the 70 per cent milestone by June 18, at which point it would be able to start then two-week countdown to a Stage 3 re-opening.
Alberta currently has 68.5 per cent of its population immunized with a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, including 19.2 per cent who are fully vaccinated with two doses.
Kenney is optimistic this new initiative will spark more interest.
“We’ve had to spend billions of dollars in our health-care system and through supporting people for the past 16 tough months so if we can just keep pushing up those numbers of people who are vaccinated, that will easily pay for itself in future savings,” Kenney said.
CTV News has reached out the premier’s office for further details on where the prize money for the lottery will be coming from, but has yet to receive a response.
Further information on how to register for the lottery is expected from the Alberta government on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
A Nigerian chess champion plays the royal game for 60 hours - a new global chess record
A Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate played chess nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.