Aaron Rodgers Regrets Handling of COVID Immunization Claims

Quarterback opens up about misleading COVID status and health concerns
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 12, 2024 6:45 PM CDT
Aaron Rodgers Regrets Handling of COVID Immunization Claims
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is seen before the start of an NFL preseason football game between the Washington Commanders and New York Jets Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in East Rutherford. N.J.   (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers expresses regret in an upcoming book for how he communicated his COVID-19 immunization status back in 2021. While with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers declared he was "immunized," only to test positive and face a 10-day quarantine three months later. His claim sparked criticism since his homeopathic treatment did not meet league vaccination requirements.

In the biography "Out Of The Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers," the four-time NFL MVP reflects that he should have been more transparent. "If there's one thing I wish could have gone different, it's that," Rodgers told author Ian O'Connor. He admits using the term 'immunized' to support his appeal, noting his allergy to polyethylene glycol in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and concerns over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

"If I could do it again, I would have said, (forget) the appeal. I'm just going to tell them I'm allergic to PEG," Rodgers says in the book. "I'm not getting Johnson & Johnson. I'm not going to be vaxxed." The book, set to hit shelves next week, draws from 250 interviews and explores Rodgers' wide-ranging life and career. Topics include his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, his estrangement from family, and his experiences with ayahuasca. It also revisits his football journey, from college days at Cal to his dramatic slide in the 2005 draft and his 18-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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