Abbigail Bugenske, a 22-year-old from Ohio, had nearly forgotten about her slim chance of becoming the state’s next millionaire. As the clock approached 7:29 pm on a Wednesday evening, Ohio was about to announce the recipient of its inaugural lottery drawing for vaccinated residents, broadcast live on television. Bugenske, en route from Cincinnati to her parents’ home near Cleveland, received a call that left her in fits of laughter. The governor was on the line, informing her that she had just won $1 million.

Initially suspecting it was a prank call, Bugenske’s disbelief turned to certainty as her phone flooded with congratulatory messages. Upon entering her parents’ house, she excitedly declared her newfound millionaire status, causing her parents to believe something was wrong due to her jubilant screams.

Bugenske, a recent college graduate and a new Cincinnati resident working as an engineer, secured the windfall through Ohio’s innovative lottery, which rewards $1 million to individuals who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. While this approach has generated both excitement and criticism, similar incentives are gaining popularity nationwide, with states like Colorado, Maryland, and Oregon adopting comparable strategies to boost vaccination rates.

Critics argue that such programs might not sway those already opposed to vaccines. Bugenske, however, emphasized that she received her shot immediately upon eligibility, before the lottery was announced, and subsequently entered the drawing. She encourages others to get vaccinated, stating, “If winning a million dollars isn’t incentive enough, I don’t really know what would be.”

Over 2.7 million Ohioans entered the lottery for a chance to win $1 million, and future drawings are scheduled. Additionally, the lottery offers a full college scholarship for children aged 12 to 17. The first scholarship was awarded to Joseph Costello, a 14-year-old from Englewood near Dayton, selected from over 104,000 entries.