Ohio's $1M vax signup starts

CELINA - Registration for the Ohio Vax-a-Million program opened Tuesday, allowing vaccinated adults to enter for a chance to win $1 million or a four-year, full-ride scholarship for Ohio youths in a series of five weekly statewide drawings.

The Ohio Vax-a-Million program is a series of five weekly statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination, according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Lottery.

Ohioans 18 and older who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can enter to win one of five $1 million prizes. Ohioans ages 12-17 who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can enter to win one of five four-year, full-ride scholarships, including room and board, tuition and books, to any Ohio state college or university.

Vaccinated Ohioans who wish to enter the drawing must opt-in by visiting OhioVaxaMillion.com or by calling the Ohio Department of Health at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH between 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

Once an Ohioan enters, their entry will be carried over through all the drawings, according to the ODH release. It is not necessary to enter each week.

Vaccination records will be verified for winners. Winners will be announced each Wednesday, starting May 26, at approximately 7:29 p.m., for five weeks. The final announcement will take place on June 23.

To be eligible to be announced as a winner, an Ohio resident must enter by the end of day the Sunday prior. Official rules, frequently asked questions, and a list of entry end dates, drawing dates, announcement dates, and a list of TV stations that will air the announcement, is available at ohiovaxamillion.com.

In related news, Mercer County Health District officials on Tuesday reported nine new cases of COVID-19 since their last report on Thursday, raising the county's cumulative number of cases to 4,087. They also reported a cumulative 763 probable cases, 3,945 people who have recovered, 86 deaths and 19 probable deaths from COVID-19. Of the overall cases, 14 are active.

Auglaize County Health Department officials also on Tuesday reported six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since their last report on Thursday, raising that county's cumulative case count to 3,653. They also reported a cumulative 1,238 probable cases, 184 hospitalizations, 65 deaths and 4,697 people who are presumed to have recovered.

Mercer health district officials noted the Ohio Department of Health on Monday amended its health order to comply with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowing those who have been fully vaccinated to stop wearing masks.

Those who have not been vaccinated should still wear a mask and socially distance. Per the CDC guidance, everyone should wear a mask when in healthcare settings, when traveling on public transportation and when at a business or employer that require masks. The current order remains in place until June 2.

Officials also will offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the Mercer County Health District office on the first floor of the Central Services Building, Celina. To accommodate individuals age 12 and older who wish to be vaccinated, the health district will offer the Pfizer vaccine on May 28.

The health district also will offer clinics on the following dates using the following vaccines: Friday, Moderna; May 28, Moderna or Pfizer; June 1, Pfizer; June 4, Pfizer. Individuals can call 419-586-3251 extension 1462 to schedule and appointment.

As of Tuesday night, ODH reported a cumulative 1,092,616 confirmed and probable cases, 58,167 hospitalizations and 19,628 Ohio resident deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.