New state vaccine lottery announced for military

By Rachel La Corte

The Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday announced a new COVID-19 vaccine incentive lottery for the state’s military, family members and veterans.

He said it was because the federal government wasn’t sharing individual vaccine status of those groups with the state and there were concerns they would be left out of a previously announced lottery.

The announcement comes after last week’s start of a lottery that has already had two drawings for $250,000 prizes, and also includes giveaways for college tuition assistance, airline tickets and game systems, among other prizes.

A final drawing in that lottery will be for a $1 million prize on July 13.

Washington is among several states that created lotteries in hopes of increasing the pace of vaccination. The governor’s office believe the state is the first with a separate lottery for those who have been vaccinated at military locations.

The new separate lottery applies to military, military staff and family members who were vaccinated through the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs or the National Guard.

A spokesman for Inslee said that the Department of Defense will be involved in circulating a form for military members to fill out.

Starting July 20, there will be one drawing a week for three weeks, with cash prizes of $100,000 for the first two weeks and a $250,000 prize for the final week. There will also be $250 Amazon gift cards up for grabs.

Also, Inslee announced Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler was issuing an emergency order that allows medical providers to bill insurance companies for proactively reaching out to unvaccinated patients.

Inslee has said the state will fully reopen its economy by June 30, or sooner if 70 percent of residents 16 and older have received at least one dose. As of Thursday, nearly 68 percent in that age group have received at least one dose, according to the governor’s office.

All of the state’s 39 counties are currently in the third phase of Inslee’s four-stage reopening plan, with restaurants, bars and gyms able to operate at 50 percent indoor capacity.

Republican leaders in the state Senate and House have called on the governor to fully reopen the state now, citing action in the majority of other states, and well as differences in federal numbers and the lack of data sharing for military members.

Inslee has said federal and state numbers aren’t an equal comparison since the CDC uses information for people 18 and older based on 2019 population numbers, and the state is using 2020 population estimates for those 16 and older.

“For those who would advocate changing our strategy, we are on the two-yard line,” Inslee said in a statement earlier this week. “We are not going to change the game plan now. We are going to see this through.”

More in News

Olympic Medical Center to explore outside partnership

Process to explore long-term viability

After learning about each other through a genealogy service 15 years ago and speaking on the phone for years, Steven Hanson of Montevideo, Minn., and Sue Harrison of Sequim met for the first time a few weeks ago. The siblings were placed for adoption by their biological mother about 10 years apart. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Adopted as babies, siblings meet decades later

Sequim woman started search for biological family 15 years ago

Derek Kilmer.
Kilmer looking to next chapter

Politician stepping down after 20 years

Jefferson County PUD General Manager Kevin Streett plans to retire next summer. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Jefferson County PUD general manager to retire

Kevin Streett plan to serve until June 2025

Port Angeles, waterfront district agree to three-year deal

Funds from parking, quarterly billing to help with public events

From left to right: Special Olympics Washington Athlete, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith, East Wenatchee Police Officer Brandon Johnson, Port Angeles Deputy Chief Jason Viada, Undersheriff Lorraine Shore, Sheriff Brian King, Chief Criminal Deputy Amy Bundy and Fife Police Officer Patrick Gilbert. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook)
Clallam County undersheriff named Torch Run Sheriff of the Year

Clallam County Undersheriff Lorraine Shore has been selected as… Continue reading

Oliver Pochert, left, and daughter Leina, 9, listen as Americorp volunteer and docent Hillary Sanders talks about the urchins, crabs and sea stars living in the touch tank in front of her at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Pochert, who lives in Sequim, drove to Port Townsend on Sunday to visit the aquarium because the aquarium is closing its location this month after 42 years of operation. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Aquarium closing

Oliver Pochert, left, and daughter Leina, 9, listen as Americorp volunteer and… Continue reading

Tree sale is approved for auction

Appeals filed for two Elwha watershed parcels

Port Townsend City Council to draw down funds in 2025 budget

City has ‘healthy fund reserve balance,’ finance director says

Man flown to hospital after crash investigated for DUI

A 41-year-old man was flown to Olympic Medical Center in… Continue reading

Signal controller project to impact traffic

Work crews will continue with the city of Port… Continue reading