Tuesday, Gov. Beshear hinted that something similar may be coming to the Bluegrass.

After saying that Kentucky is averaging roughly 10,000 vaccinations a day, Beshear said, “Later this week we may have an announcement, I hope on Thursday, about some incentives that will help us go even further.”

With just over 46% of the state vaccinated, Kentucky is firmly middle of the pack of COVID-19 vaccinations nationwide. But the pace has slowed and, based on the results in one other state, incentives may be an effective tool for boosting vaccine uptake.

In Ohio, vaccinations are up 45% since the state announced its Vax-a-Million program, Gov. Mike DeWine said recently. Stephanie McCloud, Ohio Department of Health Director, has attributed "significant increases in vaccination numbers" to the drawings, the first of which was held last week and awarded $1 million to a 22-year-old from Cincinnati.

The reaction of Ohioans to the vaccine lottery adds real world evidence to the findings made by the U.C.L.A. COVID-19 Health and Politics Project. In a survey of more than 7,200 unvaccinated people, more than a third said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if they were offered a $100 incentive.

Now, nearly a half-dozen states have held or announced lotteries for those who’ve received a vaccine. Colorado is giving away $1 million on five consecutive Fridays, beginning June 4. 

In Oregon, there's also a $1 million prize, along with three dozen $10,000 prizes for those vaccinated by midnight on June 27. 

Maryland is conducting daily drawings for $40,000 until July 4. The effort will culminate in a single drawing for $400,000 on the Fourth of July. 

California is giving away $50,000 to 30 people on what the state is calling “$50,000 Fridays.” On June 15, the Golden State will award $1.5 million to 10 different people. 

States have also rolled out smaller incentives, including free scratch-off tickets in Arkansas, free passes to Six Flags in Illinois, free tolls on Delaware roads, and free fishing licenses in Minnesota.

In an effort to convince parents to schedule a vaccination appointment for their children, a handful of states are offering a chance at free college tuition. Delaware will enter vaccinated minors into a drawing for a free scholarship to a state university. New York and Ohio are also offering scholarships to public universities, while Oregon will award five $100,000 college saving accounts to vaccinated minors.

Kentucky does have at least one vaccine incentive in place. Last month, The Kentucky Lottery announced that anyone receiving a vaccine at Kroger or Walmart would receive a free Cash Ball 225 ticket. The ticket, which usually costs $1, could result in winning $225,000.