Jennifer Aniston distanced herself from people over COVID-19 vaccine: 'It was unfortunate'

As the coronavirus pandemic persists largely among unvaccinated individuals, Jennifer Aniston is cutting ties with those in her life who haven’t gotten behind the vaccine.

During an interview with InStyle published Tuesday, the former “Friends” star revealed her decision to limit her social circle based on COVID-19 vaccination status, lamenting that "it's a real shame" there are groups of people who are "anti-vaxxers" and “just don't listen to the facts.”

“I've just lost a few people in my weekly routine who have refused or did not disclose (whether ... they had been vaccinated), and it was unfortunate,” Aniston told the publication. “I feel it's your moral and professional obligation to inform, since we're not all podded up and being tested every single day.”

While Aniston said “everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” she noted "it's tricky."

“A lot of opinions don't feel based in anything except fear or propaganda,” Aniston said in the interview.

After the interview, fans questioned her reasoning on social media. The 52-year-old actress clarified Thursday why she is choosing to distance herself from unvaccinated friends.

"If you have the variant, you are still able to give it to me," she wrote on her Instagram story. "I may be slightly sick, but I will not be admitted to a hospital and or die. BUT I CAN give it to someone else who does not have the vaccine and whose health is compromised.

"THAT is why I worry," she added.

This is not the first time Aniston has been vocal about her views on pandemic health measures. Last July, Aniston shared a photo of her friend Kevin, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 months earlier, on Instagram as a reminder to continue wearing face masks.

“We can't be so naive to think we can outrun this,” Aniston wrote in the post’s caption. “If we want this to end, and we do, right? The one step we can take is PLEASE #wearadamnmask.

“Just think about those who've already suffered through this horrible virus," Aniston added. “Do it for your family and most of all, yourself: COVID affects all ages.”

Aniston said she’s had to reduce her news consumption as a result of the draining effect of the pandemic.

“We all went through news fatigue, panic fatigue, during the pandemic because we were hoping one day we would wake up and hear something hopeful, and all we got was more insanity,” Aniston told InStyle.

Apart from the public health threat of COVID-19, Aniston said the pandemic allowed for “a big decompression and an inventory of ‘What's it all about?’”

“It was important for those who were willing to let it be a reset to slowdown, take all of this in, reassess, reevaluate, and excavate,” Aniston also told InStyle. “Literally cleaning out crap that we don't need.”

More: Jennifer Aniston on how she stays fit and why the 'Friends' reunion hit her hard

However, Aniston has also said the isolation of quarantine had its drawbacks.

“I really love being around people and hugs. … The most challenging thing for me was just the lack of human connection,” Aniston previously told USA TODAY, so she was grateful when she was able to slowly start creating a pod as pandemic restrictions eased.

“You sort of went to this house, to this person's house, to this person's house,” Aniston said. “Thank God I loved those people, and I never got sick of them.”

Aniston currently stars in the Apple TV+ drama series “The Morning Show” alongside Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. The show’s second season is set to stream Sept. 17.

Contributing: Elise Brisco

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jennifer Aniston says COVID-19 vaccine changed relationships