The state of New Mexico has confirmed the first prize winners in the Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes, a $10 million cash sweepstakes funded by federal stimulus and intended to incentivize COVID-19 vaccinations.
Four vaccinated New Mexicans - one from each public health region of the state - are each confirmed winners of $250,000, as drawn at random by the New Mexico Lottery.
The confirmed winners of the Friday, June 18, drawing are:
- Ruth Meilstrup, 72, of Santa Fe
- Phillip Perez, 53, of Albuquerque
- Linda Tobkin, 68, of Ruidoso
- Taylor Brooke Provencio, 23, of Chamberino.
Non-winning entries will be carried over to each successive $1 million drawing. New Mexicans who have opted in to the sweepstakes do not have to opt in again to remain eligible for future drawings. Vaccinated New Mexicans who have not yet opted in to the sweepstakes still can opt in for future drawings at vax2themaxnm.org. The deadline to opt in for each drawing is 6 p.m. the night before the drawing.
Four more $1 million Friday drawings, with four regional $250,000 winners each, will occur throughout the summer, each conducted by the New Mexico Lottery on behalf of the Lujan Grisham administration.
The next $1 million drawing is scheduled on July 2, and will be followed by drawings on July 16, July 23 and July 30.
A grand prize drawing of $5 million is scheduled in early August.
The sweepstakes and other financial incentives have contributed to increased interest in vaccinations statewide. The vaccineNM.org website saw a 6,000 percent increase in traffic last week versus the week before, and a 250 percent increase in first time visitors week over week.
New Mexicans who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination may opt in to the sweepstakes at vax2themaxNM.org. To be eligible for the $5 million grand prize, New Mexicans must have completed their vaccination series. New Mexicans can schedule their shots at vaccineNM.org.
The rules and regulations of the sweepstakes are available here.