A two-party legislature representing Michigan has President Biden
Joe BidenManchin throws cold water on budget reconciliation Use moderate GOP senators and Biden clash at the start of infrastructure debate Omar proposes Biden administration as he ‘continues to build Trump’s xenophobic and racist wall’ urged him on Thursday to increase the vaccine allocation for the state amid an increase in cases.
“The number of new cases of coronavirus in Michigan has increased rapidly over the past few weeks, putting increasing strain on the state’s public health infrastructure,” Reps wrote. Fred Upton
Frederick (Fred) Stephen Upton Regent of the University of Michigan, chairing the state’s GOP, comments on ‘witches’ remark Michigan GOP leader apologizes after calling’ assassination ‘remark Michigan GOP leader’ assassination ‘in response to question over anti-Trump Republicans MORE (R) en Debbie Dingell
Deborah (Debbie) Ann DingellBiden walks the first major battle with progressives A year later, lawmakers long for hugs and FBI Chuck E. Cheese Informant describes the plot against Whitmer MORE (D). “An increase in the allocation of vaccines to the state will help save lives and effectively address the new outbreak.”
However, the Biden administration has not changed the formula for sending vaccines to Michigan.
Asked about the possibility during an information session Wednesday, officials did not completely rule out the idea, but pointed to other movements such as increasing tests in youth sports, which helped promote outbreaks and send more staff to the state.
“I want to give you the impression that there is no single tool; there is a menu with things, including staff, staff, therapy, locations and other kinds of things, that we judge with states in these kinds of situations,” Andy Slavitt, White House senior adviser, for the COVID-19 response, said he was asked about sending more vaccines to Michigan.
Slavitt also said vaccines could be moved within the state to hard-hit locations.
As in other states, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that there is a gap between the vaccine doses delivered to Michigan and the number administered so far.
The state is seeing a worrying rise. Michigan has by far the most per capita cases of any state in the country, and hospitalizations are also increasing, from a total of about 850 at the beginning of March to more than 2500 now.
Several leading experts have called for more vaccines to be sent to the state.
“We have seen Israel use a very aggressive vaccination to suppress a boom, and we are not doing that in Michigan.” tweeted Eric Topol, Professor of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research.
The Washington Post reported in late March that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen WhitmerFive states responsible for nearly 44 percent of new U.S. COVID-19 cases Regent of the University of Michigan, chairing the state GOP, is voiced over ‘witches’ comments Whitmer criticizes GOP election reform in a video with Fauci pillow MORE (D) had asks the White House for more offer.
Now members of Congress in both parties are adding to the pressure and calling for changes to the allocation of vaccines, which are largely based on the population of a state.
“At present, the allocation of federal vaccines is population-based and does not take into account the increasing COVID-19 number of cases or public health situations facing states like Michigan,” Upton and Dingell wrote. “The administration of additional vaccines to Michigan and other areas hard hit is in line with the guidance of public health experts.”