Boosting Immunization Rollout: Albertans' Optimism for New COVID-19 Vaccine Lottery

CALGARY - Here's your golden opportunity to win over $1 million and a range of other prizes by getting your COVID-19 vaccination in Alberta.

Premier Jason Kenney took to Twitter on Saturday evening to introduce Alberta's COVID-19 vaccination lottery, aiming to strengthen immunization efforts and achieve the 70 percent first dose threshold required to progress to Stage 3 of the reopening plan.

Timothy Caulfield, the Canada Research Chair of Health Law & Policy at the University of Alberta, believes that the vaccine lottery is being launched at a critical time.

"We're now in a crucial phase and witnessing a decline in vaccine interest, particularly for the first dose. We are facing obstacles of complacency and hesitancy," said Caulfield.

"Nevertheless, I believe that the government needs to intensify efforts in countering the spread of vaccine misinformation because we are aware of its impact. We must tackle hesitancy and complacency from all possible angles."

The news of the COVID-19 vaccine lottery has been welcomed by individuals like Ravinder Greywall from Calgary, who came across the initiative while going for her second dose on Sunday.

"What? That's unbelievable! I think we all need it for herd immunity, so if this incentivizes more people to get vaccinated, it will help us return to normal," exclaimed Greywall.

Karen Bruce, another resident of Calgary, also supports the idea of a vaccine lottery.

"We need to do whatever it takes to reopen again," Bruce stated.

"I think it's a fantastic idea. It encourages people, as it did in the states, to get vaccinated, and it seems to be effective. So, why not implement it here? If you have a chance to enter a lottery by getting vaccinated, why not take it?"

The premier has revealed that the lottery will consist of three $1 million prize draws, along with other rewards. The first draw will be open to all Albertans aged 18 and above who receive their first dose before reaching the 70 percent threshold.

As of June 12, there are 64,535 appointments scheduled for the next seven days for first doses. This indicates that Alberta is expected to reach the 70 percent milestone by June 18, initiating the two-week countdown to Stage 3 reopening.

Currently, 68.5 percent of Alberta's population has received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 19.2 percent are fully vaccinated with both doses.

Kenney remains optimistic that this new initiative will generate increased interest.

"Over the past 16 challenging months, we have had to invest billions of dollars into our healthcare system and supporting the people. If we can continue to increase the number of vaccinated individuals, it will easily result in future savings," Kenney expressed.

CTV News has contacted the premier's office for additional information regarding the source of funds for the lottery prize but has not yet received a response.

The Alberta government is expected to release further instructions on how to register for the lottery on Monday.