Gov. Whitmer pushing vaccine equity at local clinic

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer makes a stop at a vaccine clinic in Benton Harbor today at the Berrien County Health Department on Friday. 

She wants to make sure those who may be hesitant to get the shot, especially in communities of color, have access to accurate information and vaccine doses.

Governor Whitmer says with more vaccines coming from the federal government, they’re able to get a dose for every person.

 Today, marks 3.8 million shots that have been administered statewide in Michigan.

Whitmer met with congressman Fred Upton to discuss the quick process of expanding vaccine rollout throughout the state.

She also talked with volunteers and thanked them for their contribution.

She says that all forms of government like health care workers and national guard troops are working together to get more people immunized against COVID.

“The closer we get to 70% of our 16 and up population getting that vaccination, the closer we get to normalcy. Barbeques, fourth of July celebration and etc.,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer says together as a community we have the responsibility to continue following safety precautions to return back to normal so we can do things like attend graduations, sporting events and family gatherings.

And, with case counts and hospitalizations rising across the state again, it's becoming a race against time.

“Keeping this virus down is going to be very crucial to our ability to do all those things,” Whitmer said.

But with Indiana removing its COVID mask mandate and people crossing the border regularly, Whitmer says we need to recognize masks are saving lives every day.

“No matter if you are from Indiana, or Michigan, or Illinois or Ohio for that matter. It’s important that we’re masking up and that we are observing these protocols and so all these policies…each governor is navigating their own circumstances. We now have access to vaccines and we just have to continue to do the right thing as we increase the number of people that have been inoculated,” Whitmer said.