Gov. Whitmer on FDA Authorization of Safe, Effective Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

March 1, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2021

Gov. Whitmer on FDA Authorization of Safe, Effective Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement after the United States Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 Vaccine:

“This scientific breakthrough is terrific news for our families, frontline workers, and small businesses who are eager to get vaccinated and continue our steady return to normalcy. We now have a total of three safe, effective vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

“As supply continues increasing because of the efforts of the Biden administration, I am confident that we can reach our goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders 16 and up at a rate of 50,000 shots per day, a metric we have been meeting in recent weeks. Our vaccine rollout will continue to focus on our most vulnerable, promote equity, and prioritize our essential workers and older at-risk Michiganders. The addition of this one-and-done vaccine will help us get shots in arms quicker.

“I also want to call on the Michigan Legislature to pass the MI COVID Recovery Plan so we can use the over $5 billion allocated to us in a bipartisan bill to speed up our vaccination efforts and expand testing, tracing, and lab capacity. Every day, week, and month that goes by, we get closer to putting this virus behind us, but I want to remind everyone that we must not let our guard down. It will take time to widely distribute the three vaccines, and we must all continue to do our part by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing our hands frequently.”

Michigan has administered more than two million vaccines, moving the state closer to Governor Whitmer’s 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 50,000 shots per day through Governor Whitmer’s MI COVID Recovery Plan, partnering with private organizations and nontraditional venues to create more opportunities for Michigan residents to receive a vaccine.

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