Skip to main content
NC COVID-19 logo NC COVID-19

Topical Navigation

  • Home
  • About COVID-19
    About COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Latest Updates
    • Symptoms
    • Slow the Spread
    • En Español
    • Contact Tracing
    • COVID-19 Variants
    • Download/Share Materials
  • Dashboard
    Dashboard
    • Summary
    • Vaccinations
    • Respiratory Virus Surveillance
    • Cases and Deaths
    • Hospitalizations
    • Outbreaks
    • Wastewater Monitoring
    • Reports
    • Data Behind the Dashboards
  • Vaccines
    Vaccines
    • COVID-19 Vaccine Information
    • En Español
    • Find a Vaccine Provider
    • COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters
    • Your Vaccine Information
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Info For Health Care Providers
    • Download/Share Materials
  • Testing & Treatment
    Testing & Treatment
    • En Español
    • Find COVID-19 Tests
    • At-Home Tests / Kits
    • Testing FAQs
    • Treatment / If You Feel Sick
    • Find Test to Treat Locations
    • Treatment Finder for Providers / People with Prescriptions
    • Info for Therapeutics Providers
    • Download/Share Materials
  • Information For
    Information For
    • Health Care
    • Child Care
    • Education
    • Business
    • Housing and Sheltering
    • Individuals, Families and Communities
    • Human Services
  • Guidance
    Guidance
    • Health Care
    • Child Care
    • Education
    • Vaccinations
    • Businesses
    • Individuals, Families and Communities
    • Human Services
    • Housing and Sheltering
    • Veterinarians and Animal Services
    • Law Enforcement
    • Staying Ahead of the Curve
  • NCDHHS
  • NC.GOV/COVID19
  • NC.GOV
NC COVID-19 »   Vaccines »   Summer Cash Drawings »   Summer Cash Drawing FAQs

Summer Cash Drawing FAQs

What is the Your Shot at $1 Million and Summer Cash 4 College Drawing?

As part of North Carolina’s effort to bring summer back with safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccines, Governor Cooper announced the $4 Million Summer Cash and $125,000 scholarship drawings to motivate those who have not yet been vaccinated—and thank those who have. Four North Carolinians ages 18 and older will win $1 million each and four North Carolinians ages 12 to 17 will win a scholarship in the amount of $125,000. Scholarships can be used at any post-secondary institution and are awarded by funding a savings account in the NC 529 Plan.

Who is responsible for the Summer Cash Drawings?

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the North Carolina State Lottery Director.

When will the drawings occur?

The drawings start on June 23rd and run through August 4th. Drawings will be held every other week with winners picked on Wednesday.

Entries close at midnight on the Sunday prior to the drawing. Winners will be announced once they are verified.

How do I enter?

If you are already vaccinated and your information is in the state's COVID Vaccine Management System (CVMS), you are entered. If you are vaccinated after June 10th, you are entered for TWO chances. A record of at least one dose of vaccine must be documented by a vaccine provider by midnight on the Sunday prior to the drawing.

Do I have to be a U.S. Citizen to win?

No, U.S. citizenship is not required. You must be a resident of North Carolina to win. This includes people living in North Carolina homes, rental units or rooms, vacation housing, dormitories, migrant worker camps, congregate living facilities, and military bases. It also includes homeless people in North Carolina and people using vehicles in North Carolina as homes.

How do I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

You can find vaccine locations in North Carolina at MySpot.nc.gov or call the NC COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567.

What are the COVID-19 vaccines and are they safe?

Rigorous clinicals trials among thousands of people, ages 12 and up, have proven that the vaccines are safe and effective. More than 140 million Americans have now been safely vaccinated and protected from serious illness, and virus-related hospitalization and death. The Pfizer vaccines are approved for anyone 12 and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for ages 18 and older. For more information about these vaccines, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call 1-888-675-4567.

Is my vaccine information being shared?

No. Your record is assigned a number for entry into the drawings. No personal or health information is ever shared for purposes of selecting winners.

What is the deadline for entries?

Entries are valid throughout the campaign (June 10th – August 1st). The sooner you get vaccinated, the more chances you have to win.

Where will winners be announced?

Winners will be announced on the SummerVaxCash.com website.

How will winners be drawn?

Separate lists will be prepared by NCDHHS for the Cash Prize and Cash 4 College drawing. NCDHHS will assign each record a unique number. For each cash drawing, the North Carolina State Lottery Director will use a random number generator to select the winning number and twenty (20) alternate winning numbers. NCDHHS will match the winning number against its list of entries to determine each provisional prize winner. More details can be found here.

Are the drawings random and what are the odds of winning?

Yes. Winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. The odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries at the time of each drawing.

If I get multiple COVID-19 vaccines, can I receive multiple entries to win?

No. Receiving an extra COVID-19 vaccine dose is not clinically recommended. An extra dose may cause side effects and has not been studied. Individuals will be automatically enrolled in the drawing based on receiving at least one dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine.

Who is eligible? Who isn't eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a North Carolina resident. U.S. citizenship is not required.

    • A person is a North Carolina Resident if, at the time of the vaccination, he or she dwells in North Carolina. This includes people living in North Carolina homes, rental units or rooms, vacation housing, dormitories, migrant worker camps, congregate living facilities, and military bases. This also includes homeless people in North Carolina and people using vehicles in North Carolina as homes. People who traveled to North Carolina from other states or countries for the purpose of being vaccinated are not eligible.
  • Be 12 or older.
  • Have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a site located in the state of North Carolina that is documented by a vaccine provider by midnight on the Sunday prior to the drawing.

DHHS is not able to access data for people who were vaccinated at locations operated by the Department of Defense. Therefore, these persons are ineligible for the drawing. 

In addition, The Governor, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, NCDHHS employees and contractors with access to CVMS data, drawing program designers, 529 account managers and immediate family of excluded individuals are not eligible to win. The full list can be found in official rules.

I was vaccinated at a pharmacy, am I eligible?

People vaccinated at a pharmacy participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program are entered into the drawings through a data partnership with the program. For individuals trying to access their vaccine records, Federal Retail Pharmacy Program vaccine records are not accessible to individuals through North Carolina’s COVID-19 Vaccine Management System. Anyone vaccinated at a Federal Retail Pharmacy partner will need to contact the pharmacy for their vaccine record.

What if I am not a North Carolina resident, but I was vaccinated in NC?

Only North Carolina residents are eligible for the reward. If you were vaccinated in the state as a non-resident, you are not eligible to win.

How will I be contacted if I win?

Winners will be called by a representative from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Winners may also be emailed. They will have 48 hours to accept their prize.

What if I didn’t provide a phone number or email address when I got my vaccine?

If you did not provide a phone number or email address, please contact your vaccine provider to add new or updated contact information, or sign onto the COVID-19 Vaccine Portal to update your own information. Only people who provided a phone number or email will be eligible to be selected as a winner.

How will my personal data be protected?

The NCDHHS maintains the records and personal data of those who have had COVID-19 vaccinations administered at non-federal facilities in North Carolina within a secure computer system. The NC State Lottery Director does not have access to that system. Personal data will be retained by NCDHHS. NCDHHS will only share personal information for the purpose of awarding the prize.

Are the winnings subject to taxes or other withholdings?

Yes. All cash prizes are subject to mandatory minimum North Carolina and federal tax withholdings. The cash Prize is intended to constitute taxable income to the prize winner and is not intended to be exempt from taxation. An IRS Form 1099 will be issued by the State of North Carolina to each Cash prize winner. 

The Scholarship Prize will be provided through a scholarship account established in the NC 529 Plan, which may be tax-advantaged if terms of eligibility under the 529 program are met. The Scholarship Prize is subject to any and all taxes that may be  due after the funds are withdrawn. 

Any money owed to the state for things including but not limited to, child support, court fees, restitution, or taxes, may be deducted from the prize. Prizes are subject to all applicable state and federal taxes. For the drawing for individuals ages 18 and over, the winner will be responsible for any taxes associated with this prize. Please see the official rules for further details regarding taxes and other withholdings.

Can I stay anonymous?

In order to receive the prize, winners cannot remain anonymous.

What if I don't want to participate/receive the prize?

If selected, winners may decline the prize.

I got a call or email about the drawings and prize that seemed fraudulent. What should I do?

Protect yourself from these scams with the following tips: 

  • Do not respond to a letter, email, phone call or social media post asking you to send money to get a donation or prize. NCDHHS will never send you this type of communication.
  • Never give your credit card, Social Security number, driver’s license, passport or bank account numbers over the phone to someone promising you a donation or prize.
  • Learn more about how to protect yourself here. 
How is NC paying for the drawings?

The $4 Million Summer Cash and Summer Cash 4 College drawings will use federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to fund the program. No state funds will be used to pay for the prizes.

For more detailed information please review the official rules.

Vaccines

  • COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • En Español
  • Find a Vaccine Provider
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters
  • Your Vaccine Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Info For Health Care Providers
  • Download/Share Materials

Share this page:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Back to top

Contact Information

NC Department of Health and Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2000
Customer Service Center: 1-800-662-7030
For COVID-19 questions call 1-888-675-4567

Recent Tweets

Tweets by @ncdhhs

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • NC.GOV HOME
  • Translation Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Open Budget
NC DHHS COVID 19 Logo
https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/summervaxcash/summer-cash-drawing-faqs