COVID Lotteries Just Didn’t Work

Promotion for the COVID lottery from the West Virginia governor’s office

Congratulations to the winners of COVID lotteries across the country. For taxpayers and public health, however, it was a waste of at least $89 million.

None of the 19 states with these lotteries saw an increase in vaccination rates, according to a study published in Jama Health Forum. Compared with states without the lotteries, there was “zero difference” in vaccination rates, said Andrew Friedson, a study…