Governor Gretchen Whitmer today was joined by leaders of the Protect Michigan Commission and Michigan Education Trust to announce all remaining winners in the MI Shot To Win Sweepstakes, a lottery-style raffle that gave fully vaccinated Michiganders a chance to win more than $5 million in cash and a combined total of nearly $500,000 in college scholarships.
“Thanks to every Michigander who got their shot, the MI Shot To Win Sweepstakes has been a success and we are continuing to make progress in keeping our families and communities safe,” said Governor Whitmer. “But our work is not done. We are going to keep making efforts to reach people where they are, answer their questions and help them get their shots. If we work together, I know we can get this done and continue our economic jumpstart.”
During a news conference on July 1, Governor Whitmer announced the launch of the sweepstakes alongside the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Association of United Ways, Michigan Association of State Universities, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
While the summer months historically report lower vaccination rates, the MI Shot to Win Sweepstakes helped Michigan reverse that trend during a critical period of time before the more infectious Delta variant became the dominant strain of COVID-19. Michigan recorded week-to-week increases for first dose vaccinations throughout July during the sweepstakes:
July 4-10 28,000 first doses administered
July 11-17 30,000 first doses administered
July 18-24 35,000 first doses administered
Michigan’s sweepstakes was one just strategy the state and the Protect Michigan Commission has used to promote vaccinations, Ebersole Singh noted. Governor Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, commission leaders are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
With three safe and effective vaccines readily available to all eligible residents, the state of Michigan has seen the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths plummet for vaccinated individuals, while unvaccinated Michiganders remain vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. From January to July of this year, unvaccinated Michiganders accounted for a staggering 98% of COVID cases, 95% of hospitalizations, and 96% of deaths.
- Continue the commission’s wide-ranging public education campaign.
- Highlight Michiganders’ COVID experience stories in its messaging and advertising.
- Increase community access points for vaccinations through mobile clinics and community events.
- Continue door-to-door outreach and canvassing efforts to low-coverage areas –over 200,000 doors have already been knocked in communities throughout Michigan –to encourage people to get vaccinated.
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