State set to pick first round of winners for Washington’s new vaccine lottery

Anyone 18 and older who had at least one shot recorded by the state by Sunday night is automatically entered in Washington’s new “Shot of a Lifetime” drawing, with the first winners being selected Tuesday morning.

Gov. Inslee announces COVID-19 vaccine incentives

Winners of Washington’s first state vaccine lottery will get phone calls to notify them of their prizes.

Lottery Director Marcus Glasper tells KIRO Radio that the drawing is expected around 8 a.m., while winners will begin getting phone calls around 12 p.m.

Whether officials speak to someone over the phone or get a voicemail, a 72-hour count down clock will then start ticking for winners to claim their prizes.

Winners must allow their name, prize, and vaccination status to become public, and pay any necessary taxes.

Tuesday’s biggest giveaway is $250,000 in cash, but there are hundreds of other non-cash prizes, including airline and sports tickets, gift cards, game systems, smart speakers, higher education tuition and expense assistance, and gift cards.

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In total, the state will draw a new winner for the $250,000 cash prize once a week for four straight weeks. Things will wrap up with an additional final drawing on July 13 for a $1 million prize.

Any unclaimed prizes from the first four weekly drawings will also be included in the final vaccine lottery drawing on July 13.

Federal taxes will be due on prizes worth more than $600.

Washingtonians who are vaccinated don’t need to do anything to be entered to win any of the available prizes. The lottery will automatically gather names from the Washington State Department of Health’s statewide immunization database.