Aaron Rodgers reacts to his vaccine comments: 'I misled some people about my status... I take full responsibility'

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke Tuesday, Nov. 9, after he made controversial comments about the COVID-19 vaccine last week. 

On the Pat McAfee Show Tuesday, Nov. 9, Rodgers said he's feeling better, and takes full responsibility for his comments.

Rodgers said of course the backlash hurt his feelings. 

"Definitely was tested. I'm human. Stuff can definitely hurt your feelings," said Rodgers. "I shared an opinion that's polarizing. I get it. and I mislead people about my status and I take full responsibly for those comments. In the end I have to stay true to who I am and what I'm about, and I stand behind what I said."

In the same breath, Rodgers stated he has "a ton of empathy" for people who have been going through the worst part of the pandemic. 

"Lives that were lost and lives that were forever changed, I have a ton of compassion and empathy for those people," Rodgers said. "The other stuff is so out of my control and there's gonna be people that don't like you…People are entitled to their own opinion even if it's an opinion unfavorable of me."

Rodgers said he's staying true to himself. 

"If you find your identity in yourself and you don't find your identity in the opinion of others, you don't need that validation from people. Get it from yourself. That's not being selfish. That's, in a healthy way, love yourself and respect yourself."

Milwaukee health officials are weighing in on what started all the controversy. 

"I think that we should allow the public health experts and the medical experts to quarterback this fight. It's more important than any football game," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.

As Milwaukee County continues its effort to vaccinate the newly eligible children ages 5-11, there's fear the athlete and role model could interfere.

"Certainly, it's concerning," Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said.

The real point of concern is not with Rodgers himself, but the spread of misinformation.

"It really is not unique to him. He heard it some place else first," Johnson said. "It does not change our message, which has been all along to follow the science."

The experts said following the science means getting your information about COVID-19 from trusted medical sources, not football players. 

"When we see misinformation, we want to address it with facts. We want to address it with the evidence about the vaccine, about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine," Milwaukee County's Chief Health Policy Advisor Dr. Ben Weston said.

The Milwaukee Health Department reports no significant changes in vaccine demand since Rodgers' explained why he didn't get one.