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Fiery Governor Kay Ivey has made her strongest statements to date encouraging Alabamians to get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying “unvaccinated people are failing us” in the fight to control the pandemic.
She also signaled that she would not require students to wear masks when classes resume in Alabama public schools, saying the decision should be left to school districts.
“Let’s be clear on this issue,” Ivey said.
“Media, I want you to start reporting the facts. The few cases of COVID are due to unvaccinated people. Almost 100% of new hospitalizations concern unvaccinated people. And deaths certainly occur in unvaccinated people. These people choose a horrible lifestyle of self-inflicted pain. We have to get people to shoot. “
Ivey was in Birmingham this afternoon to speak at the grand opening of the new headquarters of technology company Landing, answering questions from the gathered media.
Calling vaccines “the best weapon we have in the fight against COVID,” Ivey admitted some frustration in response to questions about what she can do to encourage more Alabamians to get vaccinated. Alabama is the only state in the country with less than 40% of eligible residents vaccinated against COVID-19. Data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that only 39.6% of people aged 12 and older in Alabama are fully vaccinated.
In response to the question of what it will take for more people to get vaccinated, Ivey said, “I don’t know. You tell me.”
“People are supposed to have common sense,” she said. “It’s time to start blaming unvaccinated people, not ordinary people. It’s the unvaccinated people who let us down … I’ve done everything I can do. I can encourage you to do something, but I cannot make you take care of yourself.
Unvaccinated people have made up an overwhelming percentage of COVID deaths in Alabama since April, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Alabama has recorded more than 500 deaths from COVID since April 1. Of these, only 20 people were fully vaccinated, meaning just over 96% were unvaccinated.
In response to a question about being required to wear masks in school children, Ivey appeared to point out that it would be half a measure.
“I want people to get vaccinated,” she said.
“This is the cure. It prevents everything. Why do we want to play with just temporary stuff? We don’t just need to encourage people to go halfway with curing this disease. Let’s do it. We know what it takes to do it. Get a hit in your arm. I did it. It’s certain. The data proves it. It doesn’t cost anything. It saves lives. “
Ivey received the two injections of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in December. She called it “just the right thing to do,” saying those who received it should encourage others to get the vaccine.
People have to “take care of themselves and us too.” We can’t do that for them. All we can do is have everyone shoot for themselves, so encourage others to do the same, ”said Ivey.
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