DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- The mayor of Dallas says more than 1,200 people have signed up for his Mayor's Vaccine Raffle. The deadline to register is Friday.
Anyone 12 and older can register by providing proof they received their first dose of the vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine between June 1 and July 24.
"We are unfortunately seeing another increase in COVID-19 cases across the country as the Delta variant spreads," Mayor Eric Johnson wrote in a statement. "The COVID-19 vaccines remain our best weapons against this deadly and destructive virus. I am pleased that so many people have entered our raffle, but I want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine as soon as possible. There is no better incentive than saving each other's lives and ending this awful pandemic."
People can register at mayorofdallas.org or by calling (214) 670-3301. Those who register must live in the City of Dallas.
Prizes include airline tickets with both American and Southwest, Dallas Stars tickets, an autographed Luka Doncic jersey from the Dallas Mavericks and tickets to the State Fair of Texas. A complete list of prizes is available HERE.
According to the Department of State Health Services, 51.41% of Dallas County residents 12 and older had been fully vaccinated through Thursday; 60.2% had received one dose.
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"The time to act is now. The most important tool we have to combat this virus is increasing our vaccination rates as much as possible," says UT Southwestern Infectious Diseases Professor James Cutrell. "Don't wait to see what county or state public health officials will recommend. You can take personal responsibility for yourself and your family."
This week, UT Southwestern released a forecast showing hospitalizations could approach previous peaks this October. COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Texas have increased 156% over the past month.
"This is because there's still a large number of individuals who are unvaccinated and remain particularly susceptible to infection," Cutrell says.
For the vaccine raffle, the City of Dallas has partnered with the Dallas Foundation. The raffle is open to anyone 12 and older, but someone 18 years or older must claim prizes won by a child.
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