COVID-19 vaccine lottery winners say there are more reasons to get immunized than a $100K prize

Kerry Maskiew's decision to get a COVID-19 vaccine didn't hinge on the chance to win $100,000, but that is exactlywhat he and six other vaccinated Manitobans received Tuesday.

Hewas motivatedbyconcern for the health of his wife, who has had a stroke, and for his mother, who lived in a personal care home at the time.

"We're part of a larger community, of course, and you want to protect yourself and not be responsible for anybody else catching COVID," saidMaskiew, aWinnipegger.

Manitoba announced seven $100,000 vaccine lottery winners on Tuesday three in the Winnipeg health region and one each in the Southern, Prairie Mountain, Interlake-Eastern and Northern health regions. The winners of 10 $25,000 scholarships for people age 12-17 will be announced on Aug. 23.

COVID-19 vaccine lottery winners

3 years ago

Duration 2:34

Seven Manitobans are $100K richer today - all for getting jabbed in the arm. The province announced the first winners in its lottery aimed at encouraging people to get vaccinated.

The provincial government launched the lottery in June as part of its efforts to encourage more people to get vaccinated.

In total, $1.9 million in cash and scholarshipswill be given out over the course of the lottery, which has two parts.

To qualify for the first set of draws, people had to gettheir first dose by Aug. 2.

People 18 and older were automatically entered to win one of three $100,000 prizes in the Winnipeg health region and one prize of the same amount in each of the province's other health regions. Those age12 to 17 were entered to win one of 10 $25,000 scholarships.

There will be a second draw for everyone who gets a second dose by Sept. 6. The date for that draw has not been set.

Lottery winners who spoke at the news conference Tuesday encouragedthose who haven't already received a vaccine to get their shots.

WATCH | Winner has message for Manitobans:

$100,000 winner has message for Manitobans

3 years ago

Duration 0:23

Trent Fingler is one of the first people to win $100,000 in the Manitoba vaccine lottery. He has a message to Manitobans, listen to science and get vaccinated.

Winner Trent Fingler, from Winnipeg, said he felt frustrated by misinformation about the vaccines.

"Please just understand that vaccines are safe and necessary, and the faster you can [get vaccinated] and have your own peace of mind, the faster we can move forward."

The other five winners are Garth Deleske from the Winnipeg health region, Jacqueline Martel from the Southern Health region, John Lyons from the Prairie Mountain Health region, Dustin McDuffe from the Interlake-Eastern health region and Bernell Lavallee from the Northern Health Region.

Under its "4-3-2-One Great Summer" plan, the province set a goal of having 80 per cent of eligible Manitobans with their first shotand 75 per cent with two shotsby Labour Day in September, which it said would trigger widespread reopenings.

However, the province allowed most businesses tofully reopenand eliminated mask mandates on Aug. 7, a month early and before the two-dose target wasmet.

As of Tuesday,81per cent of eligible Manitobans had at least one shot, and 74.4per cent had two.

WATCH| Seven Manitobans receive $100,000 vaccine lottery prizes:

Manitoba vaccine lottery winners announced

3 years ago

Duration 14:58

The provincial government launched the lottery in June as part of its efforts to encourage more people to get vaccinated. The seven winners each get $100,000. In total, $1.9 million in cash and scholarships will be given out over the course of the lottery, which has two parts.