LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave her latest update on the state's pandemic response Wednesday morning.
She was joined by Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The update comes within days of the FDA expanding its emergency use authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.
The Centers for Disease Control is meeting Wednesday to discuss recommending the vaccine for that age group, and Whitmer says the state is ready to start getting shots in arms as soon as the CDC releases its decision.
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Watch the briefing here:
Cases of COVID-19 are down 60% since the state's mid-April peak, and more than 4.5 million residents have received at least their first dose of a vaccine, according to Whitmer.
Although the virus is still prevalent throughout the state, Khaldun says, metrics are all trending downward.
That includes cases per million people, hospitalizations and deaths.
Meanwhile, the number of eligible residents receiving their COVID-19 vaccines continues to increase.
Khaldun called on all primary care doctors to enroll as vaccine providers.
"We know that patients trust their doctors, and when they are ready to get vaccinated, we want you to have vaccine on hand," Khaldun said.
The state is also focusing on neighborhood, mobile and homebound vaccinations.
