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Gov. Whitmer places blame on White House for holding up delivery of COVID-19 vaccine

Gretchen Whitmer at a podium
michigan.gov

Michigan is receiving fewer doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine than promised and Governor Gretchen Whitmer is placing the blame on the White House.

Speaking at a news conference Friday afternoon, a visibly upset Whitmer says she doesn’t know why the state isn’t getting what's been promised.

“There are millions of Pfizer vaccines, many right here in Portage, Michigan that are waiting to be shipped. But the feds are slow-walking the process of getting the addresses to Pfizer for some reason I cannot get an answer to," she said. "We have Michigan hospitals and nursing homes ready to administer this vaccine. And the bottleneck appears to be the White House and I can't get an answer why.”

Whitmer expressed sadness at the death of Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon who died Thursday due to COVID-19.

Additionally, the state health department is removing restrictions on in-person learning for high schools and universities, though Whitmer is asking colleges to voluntarily push back the start of classes to January 18th.

"And I'm pleased to say that most of them have already indicated they will push back their calendar,” she said.

Entertainment venues can also re-open in a limited capacity, but indoor restaurant dining remains prohibited.

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