Genesee News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent statements could be an indicator of her confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine's potential for a return to normalcy, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

The initial shift in tone from Whitmer's official statements about the vaccine began on Oct. 6 of last year during a press conference in which she was announcing the continuation of a mandatory mask order, according to a transcript of her remarks.

“Until there is a vaccine that is widely available and has efficacy and is safe, or until we have better therapeutics, we are going to have to continue to mask up," Whitmer said in that press conference.

However, compared to Whitmer's initial addresses to the public before there was a vaccine, official statements focused more on temporary methods to mitigate the spread of the disease while implying that any vaccine was a hypothetical solution for the time being.

For instance, during Whitmer's press conference on Aug. 25 of last year, she urged residents to get flu vaccines, and although the statement is mostly similar to the one made later in October, it omits the key phrase “widely available" when referring to a potential COVID-19 vaccine.

“Until there is a coronavirus vaccine, we must do everything we can in our power to protect one another. Nobody is immune to this virus," Whitmer said, according to the transcript of that press conference.

With over 2 million COVID-19 vaccinations having already been administered in Michigan, the language surrounding the vaccines shifted yet again with Whitmer retweeting a post from the Michigan Department of Health And Human Services (MDHHS) on Feb. 19 that read, “Until we all are vaccinated, we all need to wear a mask,” reported Michigan Capitol Confidential.

However, it remains to be seen if this shift in language is an indication of anything more than the confidence placed in the COVID-19 vaccines by Whitmer and her administration.

According to Michigan Capitol Confidential, on Nov. 23 of last year, MDHHS spokeswomen Lynn Sutfin said, “At this time we do not have plans to mandate the vaccine.”

Whitmer's office has not responded to emails asking if that policy had changed; for now, Michigan residents can choose to receive the vaccine of their own volition.