On Wednesday, AL(dot)com ran a report warning low COVID-19 vaccination could lead to another lockdown in Alabama.
The report from Sarah Whites-Koditschek cited UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases director Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who at a press conference warned Alabama’s 33% vaccination rate, low relative to other states, may lead to an increase in hospitalizations because of the Delta variant.
Governor Kay Ivey rejected the possibility of another lockdown in a post to social media on Thursday. A spokeswoman followed up by rejecting a “do it or else” tactic on vaccinations.
No one asked for my input for this story, and the headline is misleading. So, I’ll respond here: Alabama is OPEN for business. Vaccines are readily available and I encourage folks to get one. The state of emergency & health orders have expired. We are moving forward. #alpolitics https://t.co/uS9bCP1Dsy
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) July 8, 2021
“This ‘do it or else’ tactic we are seeing discussed nationally is not the way to get things done and certainly not something we are about in Alabama,” Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said in a statement to Yellowhammer News. “Governor Ivey has led by example by getting the vaccine and showing she believes in the effectiveness of it. Under her leadership, Alabama is experiencing one of the strongest economic comebacks in the nation. Governor Ivey believes in the science, but she also believes strongly that people have the right to choose what is best for them when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine.”
As Ivey pointed out, AL(dot)com did not reach out to the governor’s office for comment and based the headline off Marrazzo’s speculation.
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
