The COVID-19 vaccination rate in the state of Ohio has surged after Gov. Mike DeWine announced that five residents will win $1 million each as a monetary incentive for getting inoculated, health officials said this week. Ohio’s Department of Health said Thursday that from May 14 to 17, vaccination rates for people 16 and older jumped 28 percent. The Republican governor announced the state’s incentive program (pdf), named “Ohio Vax-a-Million,” on May 12. Under the “Ohio Vax-a-Million,” which will be funded by existing federal pandemic relief funds, Ohio residents who are at least 18 years old and have received “at least” one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to win the sum in once-a-week lottery drawings, the governor announced last week. The first drawing will occur on May 26, DeWine said at the time, noting that the Ohio Department of Health will be the sponsoring agency for the drawings …