Rep. Powell seeks to stop Vax-A-Million program ahead of first drawing

Days before the first of five drawing occur to rewarding five Ohioans vaccinated against COVID-19 with $1 million, State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) wants to pull the plug on the whole Vax-A-Million lottery program.

According to our partners at 10TV, Powell is drafting legislation that would prevent the state from administering of any money through the vaccine lottery program.

>> Ohio Prepares For First Vax-A-Million Drawing

Powell took to social media Saturday where she said “Vax-A-Million = Waste-A-Million.”

Powell’s drive to end the Vax-A-Million drawing comes after the state has seen a 28 percent increase in vaccination rates since the Gov. Mike DeWine first introduced the lottery, according to Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud.

As 10TV reports, Bills normally require a 3-month waiting period before they can be enacted, but Powell’s legislation includes an emergency clause. This clause calls for the legislation to go into effect immediately to “prevent the COVID-19 vaccination lottery from taking place.”

Powell is proposing to redirect the funding from the lottery towards other causes, such as children’s mental health or small business relief grants.

The first winners from both the drawing worth $1 million, as well as the drawing for a full-ride college scholarship to any Ohio state college or university, will be drawn Monday.

Cox Media Group