Tigers' Miguel Cabrera to Co-Chair Protect Michigan Commission for COVID Vaccine

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera will co-chair the Protect Michigan Commission to spread awareness for the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Our goal with the commission is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and I hope my support toward that end is successful," Cabrera said in a statement. 

Cabrera will promote the vaccine, mask-wearing and social distancing via public service announcements. Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin, who recently played for the Detroit Pistons, will also serve as a co-chair.

Nearly half of Michigan residents ages 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, per Beth LeBlanc of The Detroit News, who cited state data. More than a third of people are fully vaccinated.

Whitmer likely hopes partnering with Cabrera, a longtime star athlete in the state, will help ease some of the trepidation some have regarding vaccinations, saying: "We appreciate the tremendous support and advocacy from the Detroit Tigers because this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our state's effort to persevere and overcome the pandemic."

The vaccination rate across the United States has begun slowing as most of those who were most eager to receive vaccination have at least begun the process.

Per LeBlanc, Michigan hopes to vaccinate 70 percent of eligible people in the state.