PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Friday opened up about recently testing positive for COVID-19 and responded to critics who say he previously misled the public about his vaccine status.
Rodgers, appearing live on The Pat McAfee Show, explained that he declined to get vaccinated because he determined that he was allergic to ingredients in the mRNA vaccines produced by Moderna and Pfizer.
He said he passed on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after its use was briefly paused, following federal health officials in April investigating 15 cases of rare blood clots among 8 million individuals receiving J&J doses. The pause was lifted soon afterward as it was deemed safe by federal officials.
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The three-time and reigning NFL MVP, who is out for Week 9 while in protocols, complained several times about a media "witch hunt" which sought to identify the vaccine status of NFL players, especially quarterbacks.
He also denied violating protocols at Packers facilities. As cited by Green Bay Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman with the Athletic:
Rodgers accused vaccine advocates and the media of adopting a "woke mob" mentality and seeking to punish the unvaccinated by weaponizing "cancel culture."
Rodgers said that he did not lie when he told the media he was "immunized" during training camp. He didn't clarify that immunized didn't mean vaccinated because no follow-up questions were asked, he said.
He also said the Packers organization and his teammates have known he has not been vaccinated for COVID-19. The NFL is conducting an investigation into Aaron Rodgers' and the Packers' actions regarding the league's COVID-19 protocols.
Despite his recent diagnosis, Rodgers said he is feeling fine overall, and has befriended popular podcast host and vaccine skeptic Joe Rogan, who made headlines for contracting the virus after railing against the vaccines.
Rodgers, 37, said he also had concerns about fertility in the event he should want children. He insisted he's not an "anti-vaccine flat-earther" and said it's an individual choice for everyone.
"The vaccines do provide protection, for sure," Rodgers said, "but there's a lot we don't know."