Vice President Kamala was in Detroit Monday, discussing voting rights and the COVID-19 vaccine. She arrived Monday morning, and participated in a voting rights listening session with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Later that afternoon, she spoke at a vaccine mobilization event at the TCF Center. Harris was preceded by several Michigan lawmakers, including U.S. Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist III, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Harris praised Detroiters' resilience throughout the pandemic
"At the very start of the pandemic, companies in Detroit, from small batch manufacturers to Big 3 auto makers, converted their factories and produced protective gear and ventilators for our nation’s hospitals," she said. "You did that not only for folks locally, but nationally. As COVID-19 cases rose, it was Detroit's frontline workers who worked around the clock to care for those who were sick."
Harris spoke about the Biden administration's plans to get as many Americans vaccinated as possible. She said there are two key components to that plan: the first is to make sure people are getting the facts, not misinformation, and the second is to bring the vaccine directly to people.
She says there will be volunteers going door to door to make sure people have the facts about the vaccine, and plans to distribute the vaccine to primary care providers and pediatricians. Harris also says there are plans to set up clinics in workplaces, and sending mobile clinics into communities.
"Getting vaccinated is the single best defense against COVID-19 and its variants," she said. "We are leaving no stone unturned."
Harris congratulated Michigan for having 4.8 million of its eligible residents vaccinated, but encouraged people to talk to their loved ones about getting the vaccine.
"This is incredible progress, and we need to build on that progress; and we need to build on that progress now. Because there are still a whole lot of folks who are not yet vaccinated, and that is certainly true here in Detroit. So I’m here to say thank you, congratulations, and we have more work to do," she said.
Detroit's COVID vaccination rates are lower compared to much of the state. 38% of eligible residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
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