A woman in Australia has received a surprise lottery winning of AU$1 million ( US $ 740,000 ) for just getting the COVID-19 vaccination , thanks to a philanthropic organisation that aims to boost vaccine rates in the country . TheMillion Dollar Vax Alliance , a group of mostly anonymous donors and companies , offered an AU$1 million jackpot to one lucky Australian , while also handing out 100 AU$1,000 gift card day by day to multitude getting immunize throughout this yr .
Joanne Zhu , 25 , is the tardy victor and with entries ending last calendar month , in all probability the last . She now mean to spend the money on visiting her family in China , treating them to a luxury getaway , and investing the remainder to survive a comfortable life .
" I desire to fly my family out from China first - family and put them up in a five - star hotel for Chinese New Year if the mete are open , ” Zhu said in an interview withSky News . " I will buy present for my family and gift the rest of the money so I can make more money in the futurity and to help people if they need help . "
Incentives to get immunise are not newfangled . In the US , detached guns , beer , cannabis , donuts , money , college scholarships , and vacations have all been used to lure people to get immunized to prevent the gap of the deadly computer virus , with vary stage of succeeder . On the flip side , there has also been talk of companiesdocking the salariesof unvaccinated , ordeadlines to get vaccinatedbefore your employment is cease .
Australia was ab initio praised for its rigorous zero - COVID strategy , admit close its borders and farsighted lockdowns . However , with the desire to rejoin to " normal " and the more infections Delta variant , the emphasis is now on vaccine . outside borders afford for the first fourth dimension last hebdomad since the pandemic begin , but only for immunized people .
Now Australia has formally hit an80 per centum inoculation ratefor ages 16 + , a huge milepost in halting COVID-19 as lockdowns continue throughout the nation . The lottery itself has been part accredit with attain this milestone , and the government activity hope that continue efforts will see national rates equal to those fancy in regions such as Canberra , which now sport a 95 pct vaccination pace .
