Aaron Rodgers made a much-criticized statement in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Now he has shown remorse.
In the recent past, Aaron Rodgers has repeatedly caused confusion or even embarrassment with some of his crude theories. His handling of the corona pandemic was particularly tricky. Almost exactly three years ago, he allowed himself to be carried away by a statement that was heavily criticized.
In August 2021, he claimed at a press conference that he was immunized against the coronavirus, even without vaccination. Instead, he referred to a homeopathic treatment that, in his view, completely replaced the vaccination. The response was devastating.
“If there was anything I would do differently, that would be it. Because this criticism hit me hard,” Rodgers is quoted as saying in an excerpt from a biography that will be published soon.
When he finally tested positive as an unvaccinated player in November 2021, while still with the Green Bay Packers, and the NFL took him out of play as a precautionary measure, he filed an official complaint. The quarterback asked the NFL to recognize his treatment as a vaccine substitute and thus classify him as vaccinated.
Rodgers explained his refusal to vaccinate with an allergy
Only later did Rodgers explain that he was allergic to a certain ingredient in the vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Biontech/Pfizer – polyethylene glycol, or PEG for short. He also had concerns about reports of medical side effects with the vaccine from the manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
“If I could do it again, I would just say, ‘Screw the complaint, I’ll just tell them I’m allergic to PEG. I don’t take Johnson & Johnson either, and I won’t get vaccinated.'”
Rodgers further explained: “I had a vaccination card from my primary care doctor that looked similar. I didn’t try to sell it as a vaccination card, but I said, ‘Listen, here’s my record. This is how you can read it.'” Had he not done so, his complaint against the NFL would have been immediately dismissed, he stressed.
The fact that Rodgers moved to the New York Jets in 2023 made the issue even more explosive, as the franchise is owned by the descendants of the founder of Johnson & Johnson.
