Australian Woman Wins $1 Million Just For Getting A Covid-19 Vaccine

An Australian woman is $1 million richer after getting the coronavirus vaccine.

Millions of Aussies have answered the government's call to get the jab and they had all the chance to enter the draw for one live-changing prize.

One million bucks was on offer to any Australian who rolled up their sleeve and the winner was announced over the weekend.

Joanne Zhu was crowned the major prize winner and she was handed a big, fat cheque that showed off her incredible reward.

The prize was created by a group of philanthropists and companies in a bid to get more Australians vaccinated.

The Million Dollar Vax Alliance saw nearly three million people put their names down, however it was 25-year-old Zhu who got the all important call.

9News

Funnily enough, she actually missed the first call to tell her she'd won because she was at work.

"Then I called them back and she said: "Oh, you won a million dollars! You're the only one in Australia'," she told Channel 9.

Ms Zhu has also revealed what she plans on doing with the money.

"I want to fly my family out from China first class and put them up in a five star hotel for Chinese New Year if the borders are open.

"I will buy presents for my family and invest the rest of the money so I can make more money in the future and to help people if they need help."

In addition to the $1 million cash prize, the Million Dollar Vax initiative also handed out 100 gift cards that were loaded with $1,000 spending money.

The cards were issued throughout October, so if you didn't get the call then sadly you didn't win.

The campaign has been credited with helping get more than 80 per cent of Australians get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

This incredible milestone has allowed some states reopen international borders and relax harsh coronavirus-related restrictions and lockdowns.

Million Dollar Vax's Craig Winkler also told 9News: "All of us behind the campaign are incredibly proud of what it has achieved; it's excellent to finally announce the winner and hearing their reaction was truly priceless.

"The most encouraging element was the late increase in entries from states such as South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, encouragingly receiving over 100,000 entries on the final day of the campaign."

Joanne Zhu already knows how she wants to spend some of the cash.

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie