(WWJ) The plan is to administer up to 3,000 shots per day, Michigan officials say, as a new mass COVID-19 vaccination site opens in Oakland County.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday announced the new community vaccine site, located at the United Wholesale Mortgage Sports Complex.
Residents can sign up for appointments at the new site at oaklandcountyvaccine.com.
The goal of these vaccines, the governor said, is to help get Michigan and our nation back to normal.
"In Michigan, the vaccine process is getting faster and smoother every day, and this community vaccination site in Oakland County will help us reach our goal of equitably vaccinating 70% of Michiganders 16 and up more quickly,” said Whitmer.
“Everyone should get the safe, effective vaccine once you are eligible because it is the most effective way to protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19 and help get our state back to normal. By ramping up our vaccine distribution, we can beat COVID-19 together and enjoy the summer celebrations that we all crave.”
While Michigan currently leads all U.S. states in COVID-19 cases per population, Whitmer sidestepped questions from reporters Friday about any changes on the way as far as dining or other business restrictions.
The governor said the problem is people's behavior.
"We know the whole world is feeling fatigued of dealing with this," Whitmer said. "And we know that compliance is down, and mobility is up. All of these things exacerbate it issue of these variants here. And that's precisely why vaccinating and following protocols is the most important thing that we can do right now."
To date, Michigan has administered 4,401,510 vaccines, officials say, moving the state closer to its goal of equitably vaccinating at least 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older as soon as possible.
As part of these efforts, Michigan is working to administer 100,000 shots per day, partnering with organizations like United Wholesale Mortgage Sports Complex to create more opportunities for Michigan residents to receive a vaccine.
Visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine for the most recent information on how and where to get the vaccine in Michigan
This news comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Michigan in recent weeks, as hospitalizations are also on the rise.
On Friday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 5,500 new cases and 20 more deaths.
Meanwhile, Michigan had a positivity rate of over 14% on Thursday, while the state's fatality rate is 2.4% among known cases.
There have been over 683,000 confirmed cases and and 16,161 deaths in Michigan since the pandemic began. A total of 569,460 who were infected in the state have recovered. Get more details on the latest numbers HERE.