Baseball legend and civil rights icon Henry “Hank” Aaron died Friday at the age of 86, just weeks after receiving a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Taking the COVID vaccine “makes me feel wonderful,” Aaron told The Associated Press on January 5th. “I don’t have any qualms about it at all, you know. I feel quite proud of myself for doing something like this. … It’s just a small thing that can help zillions of people in this country.”

Aaron said he hopes his willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine “will inspire Black Americans to do the same.”

Sadly, the baseball great’s decision to make a public spectacle of his vaccination may have backfired as this will likely validate the fear of vaccines many Americans share.