Governor’s commission says 1 in 3 Northern Michigan residents fully vaccinated
ALPENA, Mich. — Health experts from Northern Michigan weighed in Thursday on strategies to get more people vaccinated. Speakers, including two student ambassadors from the region, participated in an online event sponsored by Governor Whitmer’s Protect Michigan Commission (PMC). The group discussed strategies for getting more shots in arms among youth, Native Americans and employees at large companies.
(PMC) Director Kerry Ebersole Singh said vaccination rates are going well in Northern Michigan. Ebersole Singh shared the following stats:
- More than 3.5 million Michiganders have received at least one vaccine dose
- More than 2 million Michiganders are fully vaccinated
- In Northern Michigan 1 in 3 residents are fully vaccinated
- More than 7 in 10 residents in Northern Michigan over the age of 65 have received at least one dose of the vaccine
Evan Carlson, a senior at Alpena High School, is among the teens urging their peers to get vaccinated and continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated. Carlson said he was geting the COVID-19 vaccination Thursday, April 15, at the Alpena Mall.
“I’m choosing to get vaccinated in order to protect myself when I go to college at Central Michigan University this fall,” said Carslon.
Gov. Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. The appointees represent a diverse array of industries, professions and backgrounds. Housed within MDHHS, they are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the opportunity becomes available. Their goal is facilitating at least 100,000 shots in arms daily. The most recent vaccine prioritization guidelines can be found on Michigan’s COVID-19 website.
