(WWJ) -- Medical leaders from 21 hospital systems across Michigan have signed an open letter to local residents pleading for people to get vaccinated.
The letter comes as COVID-19 cases continue to increase throughout the state, worrying medical workers that a fourth wave could be on the horizon.
“As leaders of healthcare teams that have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, we are asking that Michigan residents get vaccinated to stop putting patients, health care workers and their neighbors at risk," said Rosalie Tocco-Bradley, PhD, MD, MHSA, Chief Clinical Officer at Trinity Health Michigan.
Across the United States, approximately 99% of individuals dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
Health officials say these deaths are preventable, put vulnerable populations at risk, and continue to strain local businesses and economies.
There is also added concern as children return to school, and pediatric intensive care units have started to see a surge in infected patients.
"Thousands of nurses across the state, working inside emergency rooms to intensive care units, are being called on once again to care for rising numbers of COVID-infected patients,” said Barbara W. Rossmann, MS, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Henry Ford Health System. “Stopping this surge is within our control, which is why we’re coming together to urge unvaccinated Michiganders to get vaccinated. The vaccine is safe, and it is effective.”
As Michigan hospitals brace for what could be a fall surge, more than 1,000 individuals are currently hospitalized in the state.
The open letter ends with the medical leaders asking Michigan residents to, “Please trust us now when we guide you to get this vaccine.”
Here is the full letter:
To locate a vaccination site, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus.
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