Michigan should 'shut things down' to slow COVID surge: CDC
"I think if we tried to vaccinate our way out of what is happening in Michigan we would be disappointed that it took so long for the vaccine to work," Walensky said during White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing. "Similarly we need that vaccine in other places. If we vaccinate today we will have, you know, impact at six weeks and we don't know where the next place ... is going to be that is going to surge."
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has pleaded with the federal government to increase the number of vaccines allotted to her state to address a dangerous surge in cases but, despite close ties to the White House, has been rebuffed.
Whitmer faced fierce political backlash from conservatives in her Midwestern state for her COVID-19 restrictions last year, including armed groups entering the state capitol and a foiled plot to kidnap her. She was a frequent target of criticism from Trump. This time, she has resisted imposing such strict measures.
The White House said on Monday it was prepared to send additional therapeutic treatments to the state of Michigan, but declined to promise more vaccine as the state has sought.
