Ohio doubles prize money to $2M in Vax-2-School drawings

COLUMBUS — The prize money in the state's Vax-2-School drawings has been doubled to $2 million in scholarships.

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Ohio Department of Health director, and Pat McDonald, Ohio Lottery Commission director, made the announcement Friday.

Vax-2-School is an opt-in program, meaning you must enter to be eligible for the prize drawings. Beginning Monday, Ohioans age 12 to 25 who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can enter online here or by calling 833-427-5634 to win one of 150 $10,000 scholarships, or one of five $100,000 grand prize scholarships, which can be used at the Ohio college, university, technical/trade school or career program of the winner's choice.

The state plans to expand the age group to include children as young as 5 years old when they become eligible for the vaccine, a news release states.

"We are hearing promising news following the clinical trial and safety data submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by Pfizer for their COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds," Vanderhoff said. "In anticipation of a COVID-19 vaccine being authorized for children as young as 5 in the near future, we have decided to broaden the Ohio Vax-2-School program to include this age group, should they become eligible for vaccines."

This story was originally published October 1, 2021 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Ohio doubles prize money to $$2M in Vax-2-School drawings."