Shirkey falsely claims Michigan has already reached 70% immunity threshold
LANSING, Mich., May 6, 2021 —A supplemental budget to allocate Michigan’s COVID relief funding was pulled from the House agenda this week as House and Senate Republicans continue to reject federal aid.
“The way Republicans continue to play political games with the future of our state is simply cruel,” said Democratic House Leader Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Twp.). “By continuing to reject federal COVID relief funding for over four months, they have pulled their hand back from Michiganders who are drowning in the wake of the worst crisis our state has seen in our lifetime. Many called for concrete metrics for the full reopening of businesses and schools – now we have those in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s ‘Vacc to Normal’ plan. It’s time to get to work and get as many shots in arms as quickly as possible so Michigan workers can get back to their jobs. Yet funding critical to vaccine distribution is still stranded in D.C. due to partisan games and Republican inaction.”
Recently, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey falsely claimed that Michigan has already reached the 70% herd immunity threshold cited by epidemiologists as a key metric for fully reopening. He reached this incorrect conclusion through speculation and cherry-picking data from multiple studies.
“Instead of focusing on delivering real relief to working families, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey continues to spread falsehoods about herd immunity,” Lasinski said. “These are facts he has crafted to fit his narrative, seemingly with all the supporting evidence of a passing thought scrawled on the back of an envelope. We must dismiss these intentional deceits for what they are and instead listen to the facts born of the careful research of medical professionals who have studied infectious diseases their entire careers.”
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