ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - In an effort to get more younger people vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, , Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state will be giving away a free college education to one New Yorker a week between the ages of 12 and 17 who agrees to get a dose.
Younger people became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine later than older people, and they are getting vaccinated at much lower rates.
Cuomo says beginning next week, all 12 to 17 year olds who agree to get vaccinated at a state site will be eligible for a weekly drawing to receive free tuition and room and board at a public college.
“We will raffle off, on a weekly basis, full tuition , room and board scholarships to any public college or university,” Cuomo said. “For four years.”
The governor says the names of those vaccinated will remain in the drawing in subsequent weeks, so their chances of winning will grow over time. One name will be chosen each week until July 7th, for 10 scholarships in total.
Those who already got at least one dose of the vaccine can join in to the drawing by applying through the state’s vaccine website.
The offer is the latest in a series of vaccine incentives the state has offered in recent weeks, including free baseball game tickets, a lottery ticket for a $5 million dollar drawing and a two day pass to a state park.