Calgary woman 2nd winner of Alberta's $1M COVID-19 vaccine lottery

A Calgary woman has won a$1 million cash prizefrom Alberta's COVID-19 vaccine lottery.

Amie Gee's name was drawn from over 1.85 million entries, the provincial government said in a release Thursday.

Ina video meeting with Premier Jason Kenney, Gee said it was "crazy" to hear the news.

"As many people that can get [the vaccine], the better off we will be, the sooner we will be out of this," she said.

When askedby Kenney what she plans to do with the prize, Gee said she plans to "spread a little joy."

• Calgary-area man first to win $1M in Alberta COVID-19 vaccine lottery
• Alberta reports 1,339 new cases of COVID-19, 5 new deaths

Along with the million dollar prize,the release says42 recipients won travel prizes donated by Air Canada, WestJet, and the Rocky Mountaineer and Juniper Hotel.

"The reason we did this whole lottery was to encourage folks to get the jab to protect themselves and our whole community," said Kenney in the video.

"We just need to encourage more young people to get out there and do the right thing."

The nextmillion-dollar winners will be announcedSept. 30 and isopen to all Albertanswho are 18 and older and fully vaccinated with two doses.

On Thursday,70 per cent of the province's eligible population has nowreceived two shots of a COVID-19 vaccine, while about 78.2 per cent of eligible Albertans have received at least one dose.

Both numbers are the lowestamong the provinces, according toCBC's vaccine tracker.About 76.6 per centof eligible Canadians have had twodoses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

People can find available vaccine appointmentsonlineor by calling 811.