LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — 12 to 15-year old teens may soon be able to get the COVID vaccine, but they won’t be counted towards the Governor’s benchmarks as the state moves toward normalcy.
The CDC is expected to lay out the guidelines for inoculating teens Wednesday. On Monday, the FDA confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those age groups.
During a visit to the Kalamazoo Expo Center Vaccination Clinic on Tuesday, Governor Whitmer told reporters that the percentages needed to reopen restaurants and shed masks were set when you had to be 16 or over to get a shot.
“We’re not going to immediately roll in those numbers because it would artificially slow the progress that we’re making, and we want to give people predictability and goals to focus on,” Whitmer said. “That’s why the ‘Vacc to Normal’ plan is so important.”
She says it’s still just as important that eligible teens get inoculated. They may not face the same initial risks from COVID, but some children do get very ill, and they can still spread it.
“There’s also a lot we still don’t know about this virus,” Whitmer said. “The long haul is a real issue that a lot of younger people have gotten it, and that’s why getting vaccinated really is the best thing we can do for people 12 and up in our population.”
She also gave thanks to Pfizer in Portage for continuing to produce the shots.
“Those vaccines that are coming out of Portage will continue to save lives, and we’re just excited that this is being expanded to a younger group of our citizens so we can keep them safe,” Whitmer said.
Michigan reached its first benchmark this week under the “Vacc to Normal” plan.
With 55% of the population vaccinated, in-person work is now able to resume across all employment sectors on May 24.
— John McNeil contributed to this reporting —
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