MICHIGAN: The state that Trump and the GOP wanted to disenfranchise...hub of vaccine delivery in US

[Boogiemack]

Anyone else find this bizarre? The citizens of this state are working for us. Trump and the GOP are not. LET THAT SINK IN. AND SPREAD THE WORD.

[gab13by13]

1. They still "want"

Grand Rapids is close to the lab where the vaccine is being produced, has a long runway, and good storage facilities.

[tavernier]

2. I don't understand what that means.

I was raised in Kalamazoo where Pfizer (the old Upjohn) is located. It is very large, close to the airport for distribution purposes. Grand Rapids is 50 miles away. Is their intention to ship product up there?

[Klaralven]

3. United Airlines begins FIRST chartered flights to move Pfizer COVID vaccine as FAA approves plan to

United Airlines begins FIRST chartered flights to move Pfizer COVID vaccine as FAA approves plan to fly it in dry ice at minus 70 degrees and US prepares for mass inoculation program

The specific chartered routes being flown were not specified by the Wall Street Journal, which reported the news, and it is not known if they were domestic US or international flights.

But it was revealed that United intends on flying cargo flights between the Belgian capital, Brussels, and Chicago's O'Hare airport to support distribution of the vaccine, according to a November 24 letter from the FAA viewed by the Journal.

Brussels and Chicago are both convenient international airports for Pfizer's plants in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Puurs, Belgium, where the final assembly of the vaccine takes place.

Chicago is also close to Pfizer's distribution site in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, which is being expanded in preparation for the vaccine roll out.

The company has another distribution site in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Pfizer also plans dozens of cargo flights and hundreds of truck trips each day once approval is given by authorities.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8995425/United-Airlines-flies-batches-Pfizer-COVID-vaccine-refrigerated-cases.html

[tavernier]

6. I know all of that. I had family members and friends who worked there over the years.

I just didn’t understand the Grand Rapids reference or what it has to do with the republicans disenfranchising Michigan.

[catbyte]

24. They're shipping it to GR Ford Airport for distribution. There are large UPS & FedEx facilities.

https://www.woodtv.com/health/coronavirus/pfizer-vaccine-expected-to-be-shipped-out-of-portage-this-morning/

First Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shipment en route to Ford Airport

by: WOODTV.com staff

Posted: Dec 13, 2020 / 04:30 AM EST / Updated: Dec 13, 2020 / 09:01 AM EST

PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD/AP) — All eyes are on West Michigan Sunday as the first shipment of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine starts shipping out nationwide.

FedEx flights carrying the vaccine will start leaving Gerald R. Ford International Airport later Sunday morning. WOOD TV8 will livestream the historic takeoff on www.woodtv.com

Workers at Pfizer’s Portage facility began packing doses of the coronavirus vaccine into dry ice containers around 6:45 a.m. Sunday. The first trucks carrying the vaccine rolled off the lot at 8:30 a.m.



snip

The rollout will ensure there is enough vaccine to give people the two doses needed for full protection against COVID-19. That means the government is holding back 3 million doses to give those vaccinated in the first round a second shot a few weeks later.

[tavernier]

29. Oh, ok, thanks!

I was just confused as to why they would have to transport shipments 50 miles up the road when the kazoo airport is practically next door to them, but I guess the fed ex delivery planes are located in GR.
Well I’m sure they know much better what they are doing than I do, LOL!

[True Blue American]

4. I checked on Google after someone

Insisted Pfizer was a Foreign Company.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pfizer-Inc

We owe the vaccine to those hated Pharmaceutical Companies. Moderna is American, too.

[Iliyah]

5. That is because it was grown ups dealing with the vaccine . ..

in a room filled with toddlers.

[Buns_of_Fire]

7. I've been watching the packing and loading on MSNBC.

It's kind of inspiring.

[Silver Gaia]

9. It is! See my post below.

[Silver Gaia]

8. I'm watching them ship it from a plant in Portage, Michigan live on MSNBC right now!

Portage is just south of Kalamazoo. I went to high school there. It's where I grew up. I had no idea it would be the center of this! I probably went to school with some of the parents of the workers I'm seeing on my screen. It's exciting to see history being made!

[bottomofthehill]

13. I have always thought that American Exceptionalism

Would help lead us out of this. I did think we would find better treatments before we would have a vaccine, but the path out is the path out! I am glad we are sharing the list product and knowledge with the world. Is is what leaders do. There is a reason that people are not lining up for the Russian or Chinese vaccine, out testing and validation process should assure people that they will be safe and protected when taking the vaccine.

[Silver Gaia]

22. There is definitely a sense of pride about this. And excitement!

[hauckeye]

20. I worked there 23 years when it was Upjohn

I worked in the downtown location though. When Pfizer bought the company in 2003 I lost my job in R&D

[Silver Gaia]

21. I remember Upjohn being a really good place to work.

My best friend's mom worked there many, many years.

[2naSalit]

27. I've made deliveries there...

Back in the 1970s.

[snowybirdie]

10. Watching too

Can't seem to keep the tears out of my eyes. Is this how Americans reacted to D-Day?

[Silver Gaia]

12. I found myself crying spontaneously.

In part, because I'm watching my home town doing this.

But it's more than that. It's hope at long last. It's tangible hope. There it is. We can see it.

[Silver Gaia]

11. This is going out on trucks. The first truck is pulling out now.

It's going to Memphis and onto planes there, according to MSNBC.

[Klaralven]

14. Memphis is FedX' hub.

It will go to the airport, then to Memphis, and there it is put on planes to a variety of destination cities that FedX serves.

If shipped via UPS, the same applies, but the hub is Louisville.

[Silver Gaia]

15. Yup. That's what I gathered.

Thanks for adding that.

They just said the trucks will be accompanied by US Marshals.

And now they just said they may be going to Lansing and flying to Memphis.

There is a UPS truck there, too.

[Klaralven]

16. It's packed in trays of 195 fivd ml vials, 5 doses each. So about 5000 doses / cardboard carton?

[Silver Gaia]

18. Think so...sounds about right.

[Sedona]

17. Am I the only one who thinks publicizing this on TV is bad idea?

What's to stop some wing nut from going after these trucks?

[Silver Gaia]

19. US Marshals are escorting the trucks.

[FailureToCommunicate]

25. Thanks for that news. That helps allay **some** fears of monkey wrenching.

[2naSalit]

28. And there's an armed one inside the cab too.

Been there, done that.

[llmart]

23. So proud of Michigan right now!

Trump can stick it up his fat, orange lardass as far as I'm concerned. Our female leaders of this state are doing us proud and we voted him out in massive numbers. His petty vindictiveness runs right off their backs while they work to fight this virus.

Also, two more points. As someone said previously, we do like to criticize "big pharma" and yes, there is plenty to criticize them for but they are saving lives. They employee many people here in Michigan. It is an American company BUT many researchers at our state universities are here on visas doing the important work of discovering how to fight this virus.

[FailureToCommunicate]

26. Thanks! This is amazing to watch, that it is really happening!