Thursday, December 2nd, 2021
2 win $10,000 vaxx awards
By Leslie Gartrell
Two Auglaize County residents each have been awarded a $10,000 Ohio Vax-2-School scholarship, according to an Ohio Department of Health news release Wednesday.
The lucky local winners are Hailey Hunter, St. Marys, and Joshua Yeager, Minster. The pair won two of the 150 scholarships available in an Ohio 529 College Advantage plan, according to the release.
Winners can use the scholarships at the Ohio college, university, technical/trade school or career program of their choice.
Ohio Vax-2-School is a public outreach campaign consisting of a series of statewide drawings to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and provide incentives to younger Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination, according to the release.
Ohio Vax-2-School prizes include 150, $10,000 scholarships and five, $100,000 grand prize scholarships.
Anyone between the ages of five and 25 who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was able to enter online or via phone. The deadlines for entry have passed for both the $10,000 scholarships and grand prize.
More winners will continue to be announced, with 30, $10,000 scholarship winners to be announced at 3:30 p.m. on Twitter and Instagram at @ohiovax2school today and Friday. Grand prize winners will be announced at approximately 7:29 p.m. Friday during the Ohio Lottery broadcast, according to the release.
Although children are less likely than adults to get severely ill from COVID-19, they can become sick and can suffer lasting complications from the virus, or even death. As of Wednesday, more than 230,000 Ohio children have contracted COVID-19 and 17 Ohio residents under age 18 have died, according to the state department of health's COVID-19 dashboard. More than 900 children in the U.S. have died from the virus.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available throughout the state. Many providers offer walk-in appointments, or Ohioans can schedule a vaccination appointment at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Ohioans who want to learn more about the safety, efficacy and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines should talk to their doctor, nurse or pharmacist, or visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine to learn more, according to the release.
