*Missouri Governor ? Michael L. Parson*

Office of Communications

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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

August 13, 2021

*Missouri Governor Parson Announces Nearly 500,000 MO VIP Entries*

"Missouri Vaccine Incentive Program (MO VIP) First Drawing Today"

*(JEFFERSON CITY, MO)* ? Today,?Governor Mike Parson announced an official total of 495,296 MO VIP entries for the first drawing, which will take place today. The MO VIP incentivizes vaccination for those who have not yet been vaccinated, as well as provides an opportunity for rewards for the more than 3 million Missourians who have already made the decision to be protected through vaccination.?

?MO VIP is playing a role in driving up vaccinations in our state,? said *Governor Parson*. ?As Governor, I have worked hard to ensure that vaccines are widely available to all Missourians and focused on encouraging our citizens to get the facts from trusted experts. We?re excited to celebrate the winners and their choice to become vaccinated against COVID-19.?

Since the MO VIP launch on July 21, 2021, the state?s vaccine dashboard at MOStopsCovid.com/data [ [link removed] ] shows more than 300,000 doses have been administered. More than 180,000 individuals have initiated vaccination in the same time period. As of today, more than 50 percent of the eligible population (12 and up) has completed vaccination.??

?Everyone who gets vaccinated and enters this drawing is a winner in my mind, regardless of whether they receive a prize,? said *DHSS Acting Director Robert Knodel*l. ?We know the vaccines give protection against severe illness, hospitalizations and death we have seen with COVID-19 - that?s the true definition of winning.?

Eighty winners will be randomly selected during today?s drawing from both the Red and White categories (10 from each congressional district). These individuals will each receive a cash prize of $10,000. In addition, 20 adolescents from the Blue category will be randomly selected to receive a $10,000 education savings account through the Missouri State Treasurer?s MOST 529 program. A total of 900 individuals will be rewarded through MO VIP through October.

MO VIP

Entries have been divided into three categories:


* Red:? ? ?Missourians age 18 and up receiving at least one dose of vaccine *on or after *July 21.?
* White:? Missourians age 18 and up receiving at least one dose of vaccine *before *July 21.?
* Blue:? ? Missourians ages 12 to 17 receiving at least one dose of vaccine at any time.

To allow time for records and eligibility to be verified, confirmed winners will be announced two weeks following each drawing. Entries were accepted online through 11:59 p.m. on August 11, 2021, for the first drawing. Missourians can still enter for the remaining drawings and only need to enter once.

Official rules, frequently asked questions and a program timeline are available at MOStopsCovid.com/win [ [link removed] ].?

Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines and find a vaccine near you at MOStopsCovid.com [ [link removed] ].?

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*Contact: Kelli R. Jones*

Communications Director

Work:? 573-751-0765

Mobile: 573-508-9072

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.governor.mo.gov

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of Governor Michael L. Parson ? PO Box 720?? Jefferson City, MO 65102 ? (573) 751-3222 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]