A dialysis dietician from Winslow is the big winner in the Maine Vaccinationland Sweepstakes, with a nearly $900,000 prize.

Governor Janet Mills' office announced Kay Spofford as the winner on July 4th, 2021. Spofford has won $896,809, before taxes, which will be paid out through the CARES Act. The total signifies $1 for every person vaccinated against COVID-19 in Maine, since it first became available. Since the sweepstakes launched on June 16th, there have been 20,154 people vaccinated against the virus.

Spofford is in her early 60's, and works as a dialysis dietician at MaineGeneral Medical Center's Thayer Center for Health in Waterville. A media release from the governor's office says Spofford got vaccinated as soon as possible in order to protect her patients who have serious kidney disease, as well as for the safety of her loved ones and community. She said winning feels surreal.

My husband and I strive for a simple life, but this money will give us peace of mind in our retirement and allow us to make repairs to our house and travel to visit our children and our grandbaby on the way. I encourage everyone in Maine to get vaccinated to keep themselves and others safe and to help Maine continue leading the fight against COVID-19.

Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services encourages anyone who has not yet received their COVID-19 vaccine, to do so soon. COVID-19 vaccinations are free and are still widely available at community vaccination centers and local pharmacies. Find more information on the Maine Vaccination Dashboard or by calling the Community Vaccination Hotline at 1-888-445-4111.

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