Today, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, along with Dr. Mark Schlissel, president of the University of Michigan, toured the University of Michigan vaccination operation, which is being operated out of the ‘Big House,’ University of Michigan’s football stadium.
“Governor Whitmer and I have made it a priority to tour and further understand how these vaccination sites are operating and to ensure that we’re equitably distributing the vaccine. I was proud to visit my alma mater and see this lifesaving work in real-time,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “It’s clear that our public health professionals, doctors, nurses, the Michigan National Guard, and volunteers are doing everything they can to get shots in arms, but they need more resources. It’s time for the legislature to come to the table and work with Governor Whitmer to pass the MI COVID Recovery Plan. This plan will allocate $90 million in federal funding to help us ramp up vaccine distribution in Michigan, bring us closer to our goal of 50,000 shots in arms per day and help us end the COVID-19 pandemic once and for all.”
As of last week, Michigan has administered 1,787,509 vaccines, moving the state closer to Governor Whitmer’s goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible. As part of these efforts, Michigan is working to administer 50,000 shots per day through Governor Whitmer’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, partnering with private organizations and nontraditional venues like the Big House to create more opportunities for Michigan residents to receive a vaccine.