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WARREN, Pa. – The GrandVAX Giveaway, a contest centered on increasing COVID vaccinations in Warren County, held its first $1,000 prize drawing on Tuesday.
Sandra Stanton, of Warren, was the contest’s first prize-winner. Warren County Commissioner Jeff Eggleston and Warren County Development Authority President Jim Decker presented Stanton with her prize.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this contest”, Stanton said. “I think this is a wonderful effort and truly hope it leads to more folks getting vaccinated.”
Stanton’s number was drawn on March 7 at the WCDA headquarters, the first of three prize drawings. The second and third prize drawings will be April 4 and May 2 and from now through April 30, citizens who’ve received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine can go to www.warrenvax.com and fill out the appropriate form to enter.
Participants must be fully vaccinated according to the vaccine they choose before collecting their prize.
“It is great to see so many folks participate in this effort, and we’re excited to see the numbers of vaccinated citizens climbing,” Decker said.
The contest’s goal is to expand vaccination, particularly to younger citizens. Since the beginning of the WarrenVAX project in mid-December, the county has increased full vaccination by 6 percent overall from 42 to 48 percent.
The GrandVAX Giveaway has spurned a new group of donors who have given an additional $5,000 to the project, which will lead to a second round of prize drawings in August and September to bolster vaccine efforts for the fall and winter flu season.
“There are many positive efforts we’re engaging in to ensure the community can return to normal and remain that way despite any variants that crop up in the next year,” Eggleston said. “We’re excited about the additional funding and the support of our many community and business organizations we’ve received in the past couple of months.”
