Whitmer Increases Daily Vaccination Goal To 100,000 Shots A Day

LANSING, MI — With the number of new coronavirus cases skyrocketing, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday announced she was doubling the state's goal for administering doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Whitmer in a statement said she was raising Michigan's COVID-19 vaccination goal from 50,000 to 100,000 shots per day. The new goal is based on the state's efforts to expand vaccine administration by partnering with private and public groups across the state, according to a news release.

“Michigan is making great strides as our rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines continues ramping up,” Whitmer said. “The safe, effective vaccines are one of the best ways to protect you and your family from coronavirus, and they are essential to getting our country back to normal so we can hug our families, get back to work, send our kids to school, and get together again. These new, higher vaccine targets are a testament to what we can do together, and we need to meet them so we can keep rebuilding our economy.

"Thanks to capable leadership at the national level, heroic efforts by frontline workers who are working around the clock, and the dedication of millions of Michiganders, we will put this pandemic behind us. I urge everyone to continue doing their part with masks, social distancing, and hand washing, and when you are eligible, get your vaccine.”

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Michigan has met or exceeded its original goal of administering 50,000 vaccinations per day for 38 consecutive days, according to the state. Michigan has administered 4,207,102 vaccines to date, moving the state closer to its goal of vaccinating at least 70 percent of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible, officials said.

The Biden Administration will increase Michigan's direct allocation by 66,020 doses for a total of 620,040 vaccines — a weekly record high for Michigan — Whitmer said. The allocation includes 147,800 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Whitmer also applauded the millions of additional doses being sent to federally partnered retail pharmacies across the country, including numerous locations in Michigan.

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“The state is working hand-in-hand with health care systems, local health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, primary care providers and others to get Michiganders vaccinated with the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Providers have administered more than four million doses in just four months and we praise and appreciate their willingness to serve their communities, and are confident they will meet and exceed the new 100,000 shots per day goal.”