As the state continues to try to convince more people to get the coronavirus vaccine in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper announced a new incentive: a lottery-style cash drawing.

The state will automatically enter every adult in North Carolina in one of four drawings for $1 million. People under 18 who get vaccinated will be entered to win a $125,000 college scholarship.  

Half of all adults in North Carolina are fully vaccinated as of Thursday, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. But the number of people getting the vaccines has slowed in the state, leaving public health officials trying to figure out how to convince people to get the shots.

"As we continue to emerge from this pandemic one day at a time, we know vaccines are the key to beating the virus. The proof is overwhelming and irrefutable. Vaccines are safe and effective," the governor said during a news conference Thursday. "So, we're pulling out all the stops."

"Regardless of who wins, there’s no way to lose. A chance at a million dollars or a college scholarship is pretty good motivation. But even if your name isn’t drawn, the worst you’ll do is get strong protection from a deadly virus," Cooper said.

The first drawing will be on June 23, and there will be another drawing every two weeks until Aug. 4. The drawings will be on Wednesdays.

"For extra incentive, anyone getting their first shot from today going forward will be entered twice for each drawing," Cooper said.

North Carolina joins other states, including New York, California and Ohio, that have offered cash drawings for getting the coronavirus vaccine.

States have taken different approaches to the vaccine lotteries, but they all essentially put vaccinated people in a drawing to win tens of thousands, some up to more than a million dollars, when they get a shot.

Maryland, for example, is giving away $40,000 a day for 40 days, and one $400,000 prize on July 4, for people in that state who get vaccinated.

In Ohio, the Vax-a-Million drawing is giving $1 million each week for five weeks to one person in that state who gets vaccinated.

More than 13,000 people have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than a year ago. Case rates in the state have fallen dramatically in recent months as more people got vaccinated, but there are still hundreds of new cases reported each day.

The number of vaccines being given each week has dropped dramatically.

During the week of April 12, hospitals, pharmacies and public health departments gave out almost 550,000 shots. That includes first and second shots of the two-dose vaccine and the single-shot vaccine.

Preliminary data for the week of May 31 shows that number was down to about 135,000.

North Carolina will use federal funds for the prizes. The winners cannot remain anonymous, which is similar to rules for bigger winners for the state-run lottery. Winners will also have to pay state and federal taxes on the prizes.

"After seeing the benefit in other states, we believe this program will help get more North Carolinians vaccinated, making our state a safer place for everyone," Cooper said.