Aaron Rodgers Says He Took Ivermectin, Which Isn't FDA-Approved For COVID-19 Treatment

WISCONSIN — Quarterback Aaron Rodgers told a sports analyst Friday he was allergic to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and instead took a drug meant to treat parasites in humans and livestock.

The Green Bay Packer, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, also told Pat McAfee in an interview that he was worried about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine causing blood clots. He also said he was taking medical advice from comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan.

"If the vaccine is so great, then how come people are still getting [COVID-19] and spreading [COVID-19]?" Rodgers asked, contrary to established research.

The Food and Drug Administration hasn't authorized or approved the parasite drug ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 in people. Taking large doses of it is dangerous, the FDA said.

COVID-19 vaccination is effective in protecting people against severe sickness and death from the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. People who are vaccinated have stronger immunity against the virus and a lower risk of spreading it.

Rodgers claimed that he was going to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine but said it was "pulled due to clotting issues."

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused after six women reported onset symptoms of blood clots in early April 2021, Yale Medicine said. The pause was lifted later in April.

About 8.7 million people received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in May 2021, NBC News reported.

Being unvaccinated "was not, again, something that the league didn’t know about," Rodgers said in the interview. "The league was fully aware of it upon my return to the Packers, and it was at that point that I petitioned them to accept my immunization status as under their vaccination protocol."

Rodgers tried to petition the NFL to put him on the vaccinated players list after receiving an alternative treatment, but the NFL denied it, ESPN reported.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said that Rodgers didn't break any of the NFL's rules for unvaccinated players during the season.

After testing positive, Rodgers was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will not play in Sunday's game against Kansas City.

See Also: Aaron Rodgers Didn't Break NFL Rules: Coach

Only 58.1 percent of Wisconsinites have received one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, Wisconsin Department of Health Services data showed. About 55.1 percent of residents have been fully vaccinated.

About 513 vaccinated people out of 100,000 were infected with COVID-19 in mid-October, health services data showed. In comparison, 2,351 unvaccinated people out of 100,000 were infected.

Almost 14 vaccinated people out of 100,000 were hospitalized with COVID-19 mid-October, health services data showed, while 122 unvaccinated people out of 100,000 were hospitalized with the virus.