Alabama GOP Gov. Kay Ivey calls out people refusing Covid-19 vaccines in a remarkable plea to her state, which is the least vaccinated in the US

“We’ve got to get folks to take the shot,” she continued, calling the vaccine “the greatest weapon we have to fight Covid.”

On Thursday, Ivey insisted that she’s done “all I know how to do” in managing the situation. When asked what it would take to get more people to get shots, she replied, “I don’t know, you tell me.”

Ivey on Thursday was asked by a reporter what it would take to implement a mask mandate, and replied that “I want folks to get vaccinated” and “why would we want mess around with just temporary stuff?”

The governor said she received both doses of the Covid vaccine in December.

“It’s safe, it’s effective, the data proves that it works, doesn’t cost anything. It saves lives,” she said.

Asked about whether she would recommend children who are too young to be vaccinated wear a mask when they return to school, Ivey said that the decision would be left up to school districts.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that “we understand (Ivey’s) frustration” over pockets of vaccine resistance when asked about the Alabama governor’s comments and whether the Biden administration should take a sharper tone against unvaccinated people.

“I don’t think our role is to place blame, but what we can do is provide accurate information to people who are not yet vaccinated about the risks they are incurring not only among on themselves, but also the people around them,” Psaki said.

Asked whether the federal government should issue vaccine mandates, Psaki replied, “What our role is and what we’re going to continue to do is make the vaccine available, we’re going to continue to work in partnership to fight misinformation, and we’re going to continue to advocate and work in partnership with local officials and trusted voices to get the word out.”