In an effort to get more Marylanders fully protected from COVID-19, Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday announced a new booster action plan that includes cash prizes.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland’s latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates more than 95% of Maryland adults are vaccinated against COVID-19, Hogan said.”That’s a lot better than the rest of the country, but it’s not good enough,” Hogan said.So, the governor announced a $2 million VaxCash 2.0 promotion for the state. The Maryland Lottery will randomly pick and award one boosted Marylander each week for 12 straight weeks, Hogan said. VaxCash 2.0 will kick off with a special initial $500,000 drawing on Feb. 15. Marylanders who have already received the booster shot, or those who get it by Monday, will automatically be eligible to win the $500,000 prize.During weeks two through 11, winners will be selected each week for $50,000 prizes. In week 12, a grand prize winner will receive $1 million.”We’re hoping that this lottery will reinforce the importance of getting every Marylander that we can boosted against COVID-19 so that they can be protected against this virus and its variants,” Hogan said.To be eligible to win, you must be 18 and older, a Maryland resident and have received all of your shots (primary doses and booster) in the state of Maryland.| RELATED: Where to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Maryland; Info on booster shots”No one should consider themselves fully protected unless you have gotten the booster shot. While the majority of all the hospitalizations and deaths continue to be that less than 5% of the population who are unvaccinated, the data also shows that even those who complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines but do not get a booster shot are twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 as those who are fully protected,” Hogan said.The state is also expanding its call and text-based outreach efforts to all eligible Marylanders to get vaccinated.In addition to the 539 booster clinics across the state, Maryland will now start offering booster shots at many hospital-based testing sites.”Now that the demand for testing is dropping significantly at our hospital-based sites, we are also going to start offering booster shots at many of our hospital-based testing sites with plans to continue to expand that to additional sites, as needed,” Hogan said.The Vaccine Equity Task Force has expanded its mission to offer clinics with community partners that are focused on booster shots.The governor again encouraged employers to consider offering paid leave to employees who want to get their booster shot.To date, the state has administered more than 11.1 million COVID-19 vaccines, including almost 2.1 million booster shots, according to the governor’s office. Maryland health officials are urging residents to get boosted for maximum protection against the highly transmissible omicron variant.The governor’s office said Maryland continues to report substantial declines in all key health metrics. After peaking last month below 3,500, COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped to 1,111, for an overall decline of 67%.| RELATED: As cases decrease, hospitals still recovering from recent COVID-19 surgeAfter peaking last month below 30%, the COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 5.81%, for an overall decline of 80%.Also at this news conference, the governor announced he will not run for Senate.This report will be updated.
In an effort to get more Marylanders fully protected from COVID-19, Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday announced a new booster action plan that includes cash prizes.
|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland’s latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates more than 95% of Maryland adults are vaccinated against COVID-19, Hogan said.
“That’s a lot better than the rest of the country, but it’s not good enough,” Hogan said.
So, the governor announced a $2 million VaxCash 2.0 promotion for the state. The Maryland Lottery will randomly pick and award one boosted Marylander each week for 12 straight weeks, Hogan said.
VaxCash 2.0 will kick off with a special initial $500,000 drawing on Feb. 15. Marylanders who have already received the booster shot, or those who get it by Monday, will automatically be eligible to win the $500,000 prize.
During weeks two through 11, winners will be selected each week for $50,000 prizes. In week 12, a grand prize winner will receive $1 million.
“We’re hoping that this lottery will reinforce the importance of getting every Marylander that we can boosted against COVID-19 so that they can be protected against this virus and its variants,” Hogan said.
To be eligible to win, you must be 18 and older, a Maryland resident and have received all of your shots (primary doses and booster) in the state of Maryland.
| RELATED: Where to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Maryland; Info on booster shots
“No one should consider themselves fully protected unless you have gotten the booster shot. While the majority of all the hospitalizations and deaths continue to be that less than 5% of the population who are unvaccinated, the data also shows that even those who complete their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines but do not get a booster shot are twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 as those who are fully protected,” Hogan said.
The state is also expanding its call and text-based outreach efforts to all eligible Marylanders to get vaccinated.
In addition to the 539 booster clinics across the state, Maryland will now start offering booster shots at many hospital-based testing sites.
“Now that the demand for testing is dropping significantly at our hospital-based sites, we are also going to start offering booster shots at many of our hospital-based testing sites with plans to continue to expand that to additional sites, as needed,” Hogan said.
The Vaccine Equity Task Force has expanded its mission to offer clinics with community partners that are focused on booster shots.
The governor again encouraged employers to consider offering paid leave to employees who want to get their booster shot.
To date, the state has administered more than 11.1 million COVID-19 vaccines, including almost 2.1 million booster shots, according to the governor’s office. Maryland health officials are urging residents to get boosted for maximum protection against the highly transmissible omicron variant.
The governor’s office said Maryland continues to report substantial declines in all key health metrics. After peaking last month below 3,500, COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped to 1,111, for an overall decline of 67%.
| RELATED: As cases decrease, hospitals still recovering from recent COVID-19 surge
After peaking last month below 30%, the COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 5.81%, for an overall decline of 80%.
Also at this news conference, the governor announced he will not run for Senate.
This report will be updated.
