Speaking at Ford Field -- the site of the first mass vaccination clinic in Michigan --Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said we're in the "fourth quarter" of the battle against COVID-19.
Surrounded by state health officials and business leaders, Whitmer said more than 300,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be administered at Ford Field at a rate of 6,000 a day.
At that rate of vaccination, and with clinics operating through county health departments, at CVS, Kroger, Walgreens, Meijer and more, Whitmer revealed when she believes Michiganders will be able to gather back together again.
The Fourth of July was the target date Whitmer revealed.
"This is the key to our ultimate success," she said. "We all need to get vaccinated and encourage our loved ones and friends and coworkers, neighbors. We are in the fourth quarter in this fight. It's not over yet," Whitmer said.
As for Ford Field, The Pfizer vaccine will be offered for the first three weeks of appointments and returning patients will also receive the second dose during the fourth, fifth and sixth weeks of operation. During the final two weeks of operation, the site will administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
And it's already set up for a brisk business.
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Less than 24 hours after online registration opened for vaccinations at Ford Field, more than 40,000 people were slotted to get doses and by Thursday morning, 65,000 people have been registered, Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes said.
"Those numbers are very encouraging," Keyes said.