A million dollars to get vaccinated? The price is still not right for some Ohioans

May 14—If you don't want to get the coronavirus vaccine, would you do it for the chance to win a million dollars?

That's the bet Gov. Mike DeWine made when he offered five Ohioans a shot at a $1 million payday for getting the vaccine now that demand for it has died down and the state is heading for full reopening.

The Republican governor sees it as a win‑win: a way to boost vaccination rates while putting federal stimulus dollars into a few lucky Ohioans' pockets. But his opponents and even some members of his own party don't see it that way, and panned the move as a political stunt and a waste of tax dollars.

Mr. DeWine will know soon whether his gamble drives up vaccination rates — and the nation will be watching Ohio, the only state in the world's wealthiest country to offer such a massive carrot for getting the shot. In Ohio and elsewhere, free beer and hot dogs with proof of vaccination has been more the norm.

Ohio's vaccination lottery raised a few eyebrows in downtown Toledo less than 24 hours after it made national headlines. The idea has potential, some people said, but even a million dollars isn't enough to entice those who are dead set against inoculation.

"Maybe at 10 million I might consider it more," joked Corbin Westerfield, a 32‑year‑laborer from Tiffin who was laying concrete in downtown Toledo on Thursday. Mr. Westerfield said he lived with people who had coronavirus and he never tested positive, so he figures he doesn't need the vaccination.

Matt Bruning, a 33‑year‑old machinery operator from Pemberville, Ohio, said a million dollars wouldn't have motivated him either. He was initially on the fence about getting vaccinated, but eventually he and his pregnant wife decided to both get the shot.

"You gotta do what you gotta do — I get that. But it also seems kind of ridiculous," Mr. Bruning said of Ohio's vaccine sweepstakes.

Mr. DeWine announced Wednesday that five Ohioans would each win $1 million dollars in weekly drawings beginning May 26. Like playing the actual lottery, the Ohio Lottery will run it. Anyone who's vaccinated and on the state's voter rolls is eligible.

The state is also offering five scholarships to state universities for young teens, who are newly eligible for the Pfizer shot this week.

As of Thursday, 36 percent of the state's adult population was fully vaccinated, about half a percentage higher than the national average.

"It's an easy way to put yourself in a raffle for a lot of money," said Austin Bennett, a 21‑year‑old University of Toledo student who's already vaccinated. "It's like doing a scratch‑off — it's easy to do."

Easy money, however, may not be what gets people to eventually consent. An Associated Press‑NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey this month found that 54 percent of people who haven't gotten the vaccine are somewhat persuadable, while 34 percent who haven't gotten it say they definitely won't. The poll revealed that people on the fence would get the vaccine if someone credible addressed their concerns.

Ragina Garcia, a 35‑year‑old from East Toledo, said she's scared about having a negative reaction to the shot, which medical experts stress is safe and effective. As a single mother, a million dollars would be nice, she said, but it won't ease her worries, and probably won't get her to roll up her sleeve either.

"I'm not sure. I don't think so," Ms. Garcia said. "I'm afraid [the vaccine] is not going to work well for me."

Jerry Thompson, a 62‑year‑old handing out parking tickets, said he got vaccinated in part so others would see it's safe. He said throwing a few million dollars at the issue probably won't hurt.

"They waste my other tax dollars, so why not this?" he said.

Sharon Gillard‑Hightower, 61, of Washington Township, said like with the regular lottery, the odds aren't in anyone's favor.

"If it was a million dollars per person, I would get re‑vaccinated," she joked.

Jeanne Lesniewicz, 72, of Perrysburg, said the pot for the vaccination reward would be better spent on more people.

"I don't believe any one person needs a million dollars," she said. "I wish they would give $500,000 to two people or $250,000 to four people because that way they could pay off their debt and still live very comfortably."