West Virginians selecting to not obtain a COVID-19 vaccine are getting into a “loss of life lottery,” the state’s governor stated, because the portion of residents totally inoculated in opposition to the virus hovers round 46.4%.
Gov. Jim Justice, whose state provided a number of lottery incentives to individuals who obtained a vaccine, stated convincing youthful folks to get the shot continues to be a problem. Whereas 77.2% of adults over 65 are vaccinated, the speed drops to 53.3% for these ages 12 and up.
“When it actually boils proper all the way down to it, they’re in a lottery to themselves,” he instructed ABC Information. “We’ve a lottery, you realize, that principally says, ‘In the event you’re vaccinated, we’re going to offer you stuff.’ Effectively, you’ve obtained one other lottery occurring. And it’s the loss of life lottery.”
On Wednesday, Justice will announce winners of the third spherical of the “Do it for Babydog” lottery. The competition is called after Justice’s English bulldog, based on the state’s vaccination web site. This spherical’s prizes embrace $1 million money, weekend getaways, customized outfitted vans, faculty scholarships, searching licenses, fishing licenses, rifles and shotguns.
The state plans to attract six rounds of winners, with anybody who has obtained a shot eligible to enter.
In accordance with state information, West Virginia has seen over 164,100 instances of COVID-19 and presently has a statewide testing positivity price of 1.26%. The state has recorded simply shy of three,000 deaths for the reason that outbreak started, with present hospitalizations at lows not seen since final spring.
