(FOX 17/WXYZ) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer got her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday. She was joined by her daughter at Ford Field.
Whitmer was also joined by a group of high school students who are working to encourage other teens to get the shot.
Whitmer and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun urged younger Michiganders to get vaccinated.
"To my fellow parents, bring your high schools or college-aged students with you to get vaccinated," she said.
"One of the best ways to limit a child getting COVID is by getting vaccinated," Protect Michigan Commission Director Kerry Ebersole said.
Ebersole cites school and youth sports as a significant cause for the latest spike in COVID-19 cases in our state. She said with eligibility opening, there's an increased interest in getting vaccinated.
Dr. Khaldun, administered both of the Governor and her daughters shot. She also addressed Michigan’s skyrocketing cases.
She said, “Right now there are over 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the state every day, with a seven-day average of 491 cases per million people. The percent of tests that are positive is also increasing it is now 15.6% up 38% from the previous week.”
Dr. Khladun went on the say that the state lab, has also reported more than 1,800 variant cases across 54 counties. It’s just one of the reasons the Governor said cases are spiking.
“It’s not a policy problem that we have, it’s a compliance problem that we have, it is a mobility issue that were confronting, it is fatigue that were confronting, and it’s variant’s frankly and because of all these things that’s why the vaccine is so important,” Governor Whitmer said.
As the vaccination effort continue, Governor Whitmer, reiterated the need for all the safety precautions we’ve come to know, like masks and social distancing.
She said, “There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we are sober about the fact that we are still in this tunnel. The only way out, is if we work together and everyone does their part.”
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for those 16 and up, while Johnson & Johnson and Moderna are authorized for those 18 and older.
"Like we say to anyone, any individual in the state of Michigan. Take the first vaccine appointment that is made available to you. Now is not the time to delay, especially with spring break," Ebersole said.
The state is also encouraging anyone who traveled for spring break to get tested and quarantine, as variants are more transmissible and being spread throughout the state.
"We will in this foreseeable future have an issue unless everybody is immune and everybody vaccine and everybody is onboard with this vaccination campaign," Beaumont Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Hassan Dakrous said.
He said the only way out of a third wave is the vaccine.
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