Meet the fifth and final million-dollar vaccine prize winner

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DENVER — For the fifth and final time, Governor Jared Polis presented a check for $1 million to a vaccinated Coloradan.

Heidi Russell was the final winner of the Colorado Comeback Cash drawing, a program designed to incentivize Coloradans to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We are just very grateful for the brilliant minds of scientists, researchers, manufacturers, [and] government leaders that have enabled this vaccine to come to fruition,” said Russell, a mother of four who works at her husband’s oral and facial surgery practice.

“To create a safe and effective vaccine in less than a year is a miracle,” she added.

Russell was able to receive her vaccine in February due to the nature of her work.

In total, five Coloradans won $1 million each. The previous winners were:


Russell, who only found out she won about 24 hours before speaking at the governor’s press conference, said her daughter’s immediate reaction was, “yes, my college is paid for.”

Russell said that while $1 million will certainly help with raising her four children, she intends to use some of the money to help the less fortunate.

You can watch the governor’s full press conference below:

Polis also introduced the final five winners of the Colorado Comeback Cash Scholarship, which was reserved for vaccinated Coloradans between the ages of 12 and 17. Since the governor’s office first announced the scholarship portion of the vaccination prize on June 2, 25 Colorado teenagers have received a $50,000 scholarship that they can use at any institution of higher learning.

The governor’s press conference comes just days after Colorado (barely) met President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of eligible adults before the Fourth of July.

As of July 7, 13 Colorado counties have vaccinated more than 70% of residents:

  • San Juan (93.6% of residents have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine)
  • San Miguel (86%)
  • Pitkin (85.3%)
  • Summit (83.3%)
  • Eagle (80.8%)
  • Mineral (80%)
  • Broomfield (79.4%)
  • Boulder (77.6%)
  • Routt (75.4%)
  • Denver (73.8%)
  • Gunnison (72.7%)
  • Jefferson (72.1%)
  • Douglas (70.1%)


Crowley County, at 19.3%, has the lowest vaccination rate in the state. Of the Colorado counties with more than 100,000 residents, Mesa County has the lowest vaccination rate at 45.8%. More data is available here.

Kyle Cooke is the Digital Media Manager at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at kylecooke@rmpbs.org.