DES MOINES, Iowa – The Polk County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a lottery to encourage residents to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Fully vaccinated county residents over 18 can go to immunizepolk.org to register through Sunday, August 22, for a cash incentive drawing. Starting June 25, there will be weekly drawings for $1,000 cash prizes and a grand prize of $50,000. There will also be a drawing for a $5,000 scholarship for those 18 or under who are vaccinated.
To be eligible, residents have to take either one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The county is trying to get 62,000 more residents vaccinated before the Iowa State Fair ends on August 22. They would like to see the county’s vaccination rate move to 75 percent so the county can reach herd immunity. This goal would require the county to move from 3800 to 6600 vaccinations per week, something they hope the cash drawing and other incentives will help them reach.
The county is utilizing federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to pay for the cash incentive.
Those who have already been vaccinated still need to register at immunizepolk.org to enter the drawing. Those who need assistance registering can call 515-323-5221.
