State Farm on Monday said it supports Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ “personal point of view,” shortly after the footballer said he is unvaccinated and that he thinks the NFL rules regarding COVID-19 and vaccines “are not based in science at all.”
The insurance giant said in a statement to several media outlets on Monday morning that Rodgers had “been a great ambassador for our company for much of the past decade.”
“We don’t support some of the statements that he has made, but we respect his right to have his own personal point of view,” the company, which has been aligned with Rodgers since 2007, said.
“We recognize our customers, employees, agents and brand ambassadors come from all walks of life, with differing viewpoints on many issues. Our mission at State Farm is to support safer, stronger communities. To that end, we encourage vaccinations, but respect everyone’s right to make a choice based on their personal circumstances.”
However, Michigan-based ad tracking and consulting company Apex Marketing Group found that Rodgers featured in just 1.5 percent of 400 State Farm television advertisements aired on Sunday through 8 p.m. ET, down from more than 20 percent two Sundays prior.
Rodgers, three-time Most Valuable NFL Player, claimed in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Nov. 5 that he was told by a league doctor that people who take a vaccine for COVID-19 will not catch or spread the disease.
“One of the main docs said it’s impossible for a vaccinated person to get COVID or spread COVID,” he said. “We know now that information is totally false.”
He confirmed during his television appearance that he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, explaining that he is allergic to an ingredient in the mRNA Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and is wary of taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, citing documented past cases of blood clots that prompted federal regulatory agencies to temporarily pause administration of the shots earlier this year.
State Farm’s statement also follows the news that Rodgers was dropped by Prevea Health over the weekend. He had been aligned with the company for nine years.
“Prevea Health remains deeply committed to protecting its patients, staff, providers and communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” the company said in a statement. “This includes encouraging and helping all eligible populations to become vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent the virus from further significantly impacting lives and livelihoods.”
The Epoch Times has contacted State Farm for additional comment.
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