LOS ANGELES—While the state of California plans to hand out $1.5 million in prize money on June 15 to 10 residents vaccinated against COVID-19, the incentives won’t end there, with Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing on June 14 that there will be a giveaway of six vacation packages for those who have been vaccinated against the virus.
The drawing will be held July 1, with anyone in the state who is at least partially vaccinated eligible for the prizes.
The prizes include vacation packages to Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Rancho Mirage for up to four people, with the various tours including dining at highly touted eateries, visits to theme parks, or tickets to sporting events.
Newsom said that the venues participating in the giveaway donated their services, while the state “is going to provide an additional $2,000 for travel, so your travel is covered.”
One winner of the drawing will receive a trip to Anaheim, with two-night stays, two-day park-hopper tickets to the Disneyland Resort, dinner at the Anaheim White House, and a $500 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza. Another winner will receive a stay at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live, with two floor seats to a Lakers game; four tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood; and visits to The Broad, the California Science Center, and the Natural History Museum.
One vaccinated Californian will win a two-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, an 80-minute spa treatment for two, and a daily breakfast for two at State Fare Bar & Kitchen. Another will receive a San Diego Beach Dream Vacation, featuring a five-night stay at Catamaran Resort Hotel; surf lessons; a series of dining gift certificates; and tickets to a Padres baseball game, the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and Legoland.
Also on the table is a San Diego Downtown Dream Vacation, with a five-night stay at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, four tickets to the San Diego Symphony, dining certificates, passes to the U.S.S. Midway Museum, a harbor tour, Padres tickets, and visits to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and SeaWorld.
The final prize is a five-night stay at the Hotel Nikko San Francisco, four San Francisco City Passes providing tickets to various attractions, dining packages at four luxury eateries such as Jaranita and Wilder, and four tickets to a Giants baseball game.
The giveaway is a continuation of the state’s “Vax for the Win” incentive program, aimed at encouraging residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to Newsom, as of June 14, 72 percent of state residents have received at least one dose of vaccine.
The state has already chosen 30 winners of $50,000 each, and on June 15—the day the bulk of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted—the state will choose 10 vaccinated residents to receive $1.5 million each. The state has also been handing out $50 grocery gift cards to residents who receive their first vaccine dose.
Individual counties and cities have been offering localized incentives of their own as well.
