Aaron Rodgers Says He Became ‘Skeptical’ About Vaccines Because His Parents Didn't Believe in Flu Shots

Mar. 15, 2025

Aaron Rodgers and his parents, Darla Rodgers and Ed Rodgers.Photo:Ilya S. Savenok/Getty; Luke Rodgers/Instagram

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty; Luke Rodgers/Instagram

Aaron Rodgers says in a new documentary that his “skeptical” beliefs about vaccines dates back to his own parents’ doubt in annual flu shots.

“So, I was always a little bit skeptical of that,” Rodgers says, before slamming “ridiculous protocols” related to the COVID-19 pandemic, whichkilled nearly 15 million peoplebetween 2020 and 2021, according to the World Health Organization.

Aaron Rodgers.Chance Yeh/WireImage

Chance Yeh/WireImage

The world’s leading medical experts at the time promoted several ways to slow the spread of the deadly virus, such as social distancing, wearing masks, and regular testing to monitor symptoms. When vaccines were developed and began to be distributed in 2021, the NFLdid not require players to be vaccinatedbut encouraged receiving the preventative shots while also requiring regular testing in an effort to both help slow the spread of the disease and limit illnesses within the league.

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Rodgers made headlines in early November 2021 when he tested positive for COVID-19 and it was soon afterrevealed that he had not been vaccinated, despite telling reporters two months earlier that he had “been immunized,” according to USA Today. The then-Green Bay Packers quarterback’sinitial misleading statementabout his vaccination status was widely taken to mean he had been vaccinated, despite not having received the shot.

Darla Rodgers, Aimee Rodgers, Jojo Fletcher, Jordan Rodgers, Luke Rodgers, and Ed Rodgers.Luke Rodgers/Instagram

Luke Rodgers/Instagram

The controversy has arguably become the biggest in Rodgers’ career and is a central focus of Netflix’s new documentary about the quarterback. Rodgers says in the series that instead of getting vaccinated he “engaged” with a “holistic doctor” about “a protocol she was working with” to help immunocompromised children, which he insinuates he also followed instead of the league’s mandates and recommendations.Rodgers says he “amassed a document that ended up being 500 pages long” defending his decision about taking a “holistic” approach instead of receiving the vaccine, which he sent to the NFL Player’s Association to appeal the league placing him under its “non-vaccinated” status.“We knew the status of everybody,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur says in the documentary. “You got to respect people’s decisions. They’ve got to make their own choices for themselves.”

After Rodgers' refusal to get vaccinated became public knowledge, his dad Ed toldUSA Todaythat he was “proud of” his sonand supported Aaron’s decision.

And despite theirstrained relationship, Ed said at the time of the interview in Nov. 2021 that he agreed with Aaron on the topic. “The main thing [is] I just support him. I’m proud of him. I trust his judgment and decisions. I think that’s what I would’ve done.”

Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe.There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

source: people.com