Mar 12, 2021 - Health

Michigan to expand vaccine eligibility to all residents ages 16 and up

Jacob Knutson

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) speaking in the state Capitol in Lansing in December 2020. Photo: Carlos Osorio-Pool/Getty Images

Michigan will allow all residents ages 50 and up as of March 22 to receive a coronavirus vaccine and will expand eligibility for every Michigander 16 years and older starting April 5, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced Friday.

The state of play: For now, only residents 65 and older or those over 50 with health conditions that increases their risk of serious complications from the virus are eligible for vaccination.

What they're saying: "Nearly one million Michiganders of all races have already been safely vaccinated," Whitmer said. "I urge all eligible Michiganders to get one of the three COVID-19 vaccines."

"It is essential to getting our country back to normal, so that we can all hug our families, get back to work, go to restaurants, send our kids to school, play sports and get together again."

The big picture: The state's expansion comes one day after President Biden said he would direct states and tribal governments to designate all adult Americans eligible for a vaccine no later than May 1.

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Michigan to expand vaccine eligibility to all residents ages 16 and up

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