The donors behind a $4.1m fund awarding prizes to Australians who are vaccinated against Covid-19 include some major philanthropic organisations, but most are opting to stay anonymous.
The Million Dollar Vax competition, which offers a $1m cash prize, as well as 100 daily $1,000 gift cards for those who get jabbed before mid-December, was launched at the weekend.
The registration website asks for people’s name, email address, phone number, date of birth, postcode suburb and state.
The competition is open only to those over 18 years of age, and the terms and conditions state people who win may be asked to verify their vaccination status using their official certificate or immunisation record.
The alliance said it was modelled on a similar “Vax-a-million” promotion in Ohio in the United States.
But the donors behind the “Million Dollar Vax Alliance” are seeking to keep the focus on vaccinations rather than themselves, a spokesperson said, stating it was funded through philanthropic organisations and businesses.
Those who have been named as donating to the cause include the Susan McKinnon Foundation – the philanthropic work of Grant Rule, the founder of MessageMedia, and Sophie Oh; the Jasper Foundation – run by former Victorian Nationals MP Ken Jasper and his son Leigh; and the P&S Bassat Foundation – the philanthropic foundation established by Seek and Square Peg Capital co-founder Paul Bassat and his wife, Sharon.
“Others have chosen to remain anonymous as they wanted the focus to be on ‘giving back to the community’ rather than their contribution,” the spokesperson said.
“The purpose of the promotion is not to convince people to be vaccinated,” they added.
“The promotion simply seeks to reward people who decide to be vaccinated now rather than waiting, so that we can reduce the community impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration relaxed the rules on rewards for people getting vaccinated against Covid-19, under a permission that allows offers to be made to people who have been partly or fully vaccinated.
The offer must state the vaccination must be undertaken on the advice of a health practitioner, and must only refer to Covid-19 vaccines generally, and not by a specific brand name.
Rewards cannot include tobacco or medicines, and alcohol offers must not encourage excessive or rapid consumption of alcohol or appeal to minors.
The draw and entry website is being managed by giftcard company Blackhawk Network, with Summer Foundation working as the promoter.
The alliance spokesperson said the data people provide as part of their entry will only be used to run the promotion, but Summer Foundation may also invite those who enter to participate in research into the effectiveness of public health campaigns.
The $1m cash prize will be drawn on 5 November.
