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Media Contact:
Lisa Cox, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Lisa.Cox@health.mo.gov

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Today, the winners of the fourth drawing of the MO VIP were announced. At the time of this September 24 drawing, a total of 637,485 MO VIP entries were received. 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 3.3 million Missourians who have already made the decision to be protected through vaccination. 

Of the 180 winners randomly selected in the fourth of the program’s five drawings, 168 have been fully verified. The remaining 12 preliminary winners have until 5 p.m. Friday to complete necessary documentation to verify their identity and vaccination status, or the prizes will be preliminarily awarded to an alternate. Confirmed MO VIP winners can now be found at MOStopsCovid.com/win. 

When 13-year-old MO VIP winner, Kate Kazmaier, was asked why she wanted to the get the COVID-19 vaccine, the answer was simple. She stated, “Because it keeps me safe and others safe, and it will hopefully help all of this go away.” Kazmaier is an eighth grader from Liberty.

Maggie Riley, a MO VIP winner and registered nurse from St. Louis, hopes she can help at least one person choose vaccination.

“I hope people realize it’s not just about them. I get it that some people won’t get that sick or likely won’t end up in the hospital. But, it’s not just about you. It’s about everyone around you,” said Riley. “It’s about the newborn baby at the grocery store. It’s about the old man who lives next to you who suffers from COPD and is on oxygen. I don’t know why it’s become so polarizing. It’s not a political issue—it’s a humanitarian issue.”

With state and federal vaccination data combined, 65% of Missouri’s eligible population (12 and up) has now initiated vaccination.  

Anyone who has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the deadline can enter for the drawings at MOStopsCovid.com/win. Like previous drawings, the fifth will also generate 180 winners, for a total of 900 winners overall. A cash prize of $10,000 will be awarded to 160 adults (18 and up), and 20 adolescents, aged 12 to 17, will win an education savings account through the Missouri State Treasurer’s MOST 529 program in the amount of $10,000.  

Once a Missourian enters, their entry will be carried over through all the drawings. There is no need to enter more than once. The entry list will be reviewed, and duplicate entries will be removed prior to each drawing. All winners will all have their vaccination status verified. 

The final drawing will take place this Friday, but entries must be entered online by 11:59 p.m. tonight. 

Official rules, frequently asked questions and a program timeline are available at MOStopsCovid.com/win. Those without the ability to enter the sweepstakes online can get assistance by calling the COVID-19 hotline Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at 877-435-8411. 

Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines and find a vaccine near you at MOStopsCovid.com. 

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Some MO VIP winners are willing to share their story publicly. For assistance making contact with these individuals, please contact Lisa Cox.

 

About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in protecting health and keeping people safe. More information about DHSS can be found at http://health.mo.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter @HealthyLivingMo