NFL superstar Aaron Rodgers says there’s a reason he hasn’t gotten vaccinated and he wants his critics to shut up about it. The Green Bay Packers quarterback appeared on the Pat McAfee show Friday to answer questions about his decision to skip the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I’m not an anti-vaxx, flat-earther… I have an allergy to an ingredient that’s in the mRNA vaccines. I found a long term immunization protocol to protect myself & I’m very proud of the research that went into that,” he said.
“My desire to immunize myself was what was best for my body and that’s why this is so important to me,” Rodgers continued. “I made a decision that was in my best interest for my body. I’m not telling somebody to get vaccinated or not get vaccinated.”
Rodgers also said he has concerns about the vaccine.
“This vaccine is revolutionary, however we don’t know a whole lot about it. For the media taking shots at me, you now know my story so quit lying about me… personal health decisions in my opinion should be private,” he added.
Rodgers insisted his unvaccinated status was known for a while before the news broke that he tested positive for COVID-19.
“The organization and my teammates knew exactly what my status was,” the famous athlete said. “There was nothing that was hidden. I have followed every single protocol & a lot of the protocols aren’t based on science at all.”
“Everyone in the organization knew I wasn’t vaccinated,” he continued. “People in the media knew it and they sat on it for months.”
When guest host and sports analyst AJ Hawk asked Rodgers why he thought the media didn’t report the story sooner if they knew months ago, Rodgers responded, “Probably because there wasn’t enough to cancel, I guess.”
Rodgers ultimately said he’s unphased by the media storm.
“The right is gonna champion me, and the left is gonna cancel me,” he said. “I don’t give a s— about either of them […] Politics is a sham.”
Rodgers will sit out for this Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he is likely to return Saturday, Nov. 13 at the earliest, as is dictated by the National Football League’s COVID protocols.