Aaron Rodgers Insists He 'Didn't Lie' In Preseason Answer About Immunization Status

Aaron Rodgers has doubled down on his previous statement about his COVID-19 vaccination status, insisting that he didn't lie when he told reporters in August that he was "immunized."

In an interview with Sirius XM's "The Pat McAfee Show" Friday, Rodgers said he wanted to "set the record straight on so many of the blatant lies that are out there about myself right now."

Earlier this week, the Green Bay Packers quarterback, 37, was placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list. Coach Matt LaFleur wouldn't confirm if Rodgers tested positive for the virus or his vaccination status, only stating that the athlete was in COVID-19 protocols. He also confirmed that Rodgers will miss Sunday's road game against the Kansas City Chiefs and did not know when the star quarterback would return to play.

Rodgers previously told reporters and news outlets that he'd "been immunized" ahead of the upcoming season, for which some players have refused to get the vaccine. He also said that he would not judge unvaccinated players, seemingly implying that he had received the jab.

During Friday's show, Rodgers confirmed he had contracted the virus and said he "didn't lie in the initial press conference." However, he conceded that he didn't want to answer any more questions related to vaccination.

"I wanted it to go away," he said, as quoted by NBC News. "Everyone on the squad knew I was not vaccinated. Everyone in the organization knew I wasn’t vaccinated. I wasn’t hiding from anybody. I was trying to minimize and mitigate having this conversation going on and on."

He also invoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s memory, claiming that the civil rights leader would have agreed that he had a "moral obligation to object to unjust rules and rules that make no sense." Defending his choice, the athlete insisted that he is not an "anti-vax flat-earther" but rather a "critical thinker."

"I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and ability to make choices for your body: Not have to acquiesce to some woke culture or crazed group of individuals who say you have to do something. Health is not a one-size-fits-all for everybody," he explained.

Rodgers went on to claim that he was allergic to an ingredient in the mRNA vaccines that are made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. He didn't immediately detail the allergy. He also said he feared possible adverse effects from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Dr. Niraj Patel of Atlanta, chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, said the number of people who have had anaphylactic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines is only around 2 to 5 cases per million doses.

"Putting this into perspective, you're as likely to get struck by lightning as you are to have an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine," Patel said.

Rodgers said he had taken ivermectin, which is mainly used to treat or prevent parasites in animals. The FDA has not authorized or approved the drug for use in treating or preventing COVID-19, and in cases where it was taken, people have been hospitalized.

The Packers do not require vaccinations at their home stadium, Lambeau Field.

Following his COIVD-19 diagnosis, Rodgers will be forced to isolate for at least 10 days. His absence from the upcoming game substantially decreases Green Bay's chances of winning against Kansas City. But Jordan Love is expected to level up his game. The backup quarterback will make his first career start for the team.