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Health- COVID-19 FAQ

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1. What COVID-19 Vaccines are Available?

There are three safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available in the Unites States. They are:

Pfizer-BioNTech	Moderna
Who Can Get This Vaccine? People 6 months and older	Who Can Get This Vaccine? People 6 months and older
Number of Shots? For adults: 2 shots given 3 weeks (21 days) apart. See chart below for doses for children.	Number of Shots? For adults: 2 shots given 4 weeks (28 days) apart. See chart below for doses for children.
When Full Vaccinated? 2 weeks after your second shot	When Full Vaccinated? 2 weeks after your second shot
Additional Dose? Recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised people. Given 4 weeks after second shot.	Additional Dose? Recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised people. Given 4 weeks after second shot.
Booster Dose? Recommended for some people who are at higher risk for COVID-19 exposure or severe illness. Given 6 or more months after second shot. Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the Unites States.	Booster Dose? Recommended for some people who are at higher risk for COVID-19 exposure or severe illness. Given 6 or more months after second shot.Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the Unites States.

2. What ages are eligible to be vaccinated?

CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19.  Find a vaccine: https://www.vaccines.gov/

• Parents make decisions every day to protect their children, and now COVID-19 vaccines are available to protect all children 6 months and older. 
• COVID-19 vaccination for younger children is a critical opportunity to prevent severe illness, especially among those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including those from certain racial and ethnic groups and children with underlying medical conditions, disabilities, or special healthcare needs.  
• Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for children ages 6 months through 5 years.  
• The Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months through 5 years will be a two-dose primary series.  
• The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 6 months through 4 years will be a three-dose primary series.   

Current Guidelines for Children and COVID-19 Vaccination:

3. How do we know COVID-19 vaccines are safe for kids?

Tens of thousands of volunteers were involved in clinical trials for the vaccines. The clinical trials showed that the COVID-19 vaccines are remarkably safe and effective before they got FDA emergency use authorization. Clinical trials are now underway to study whether children as young as six months old could receive COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Nearly half of all kids 12- to 17 years old in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated! That's more than 11 million kids who have had both of their doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines continue to be monitored very closely. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that COVID-19 vaccines will have "the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history."

Is there any research showing long-term effects?

Your child may experience some mild or moderate short-term side effects (similar to adults), but there has been no indication that there are any long-term effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, including impacts on fertility. 

Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. For this reason, the FDA required each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines to be studied for at least two months (eight weeks) after the final dose. Millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines, and no long-term side effects have been detected.

If you have questions specific to your child, reach out to your medical provider.

4. If the vaccine works for other people, why do kids need it?

Most cases of COVID-19 in children are not severe, but on occasion, COVID-19 can cause serious infections that require hospitalization. In rare instances, it can be life-threatening. 

Children can also spread it to others if they get infected. That’s particularly a worry when they are around people in the higher risk groups, including other family members like grandparents, or caregivers who may have medical conditions. Children can also have long-term effects from the virus, known as long-COVID. 

The more viruses spread, the more chance they have to mutate into more dangerous strains. As a community, the more people that are vaccinated, the safer we will all be and the less chance that new variants of the virus will emerge.

Why do kids need a vaccine with 90% effectiveness for a virus they have a 99% of surviving?

New COVID-19 variants are more dangerous and infectious to children than the original strains. The percentage of children hospitalized with COVID-19 has increased 240% in the U.S. in the last few months.

While COVID-19 may often be milder in children than adults, children can still get very sick and spread it to friends and family, some who are immune-compromised or vulnerable in other ways. Vaccination is the best way to keep kids healthy and safe.

Children who are infected with COVID-19 can develop “Long COVID-19” or persistent symptoms that often include brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath. 

Children who get infected with COVID-19 are at greater risk for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). MIS-C is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

5. I have already had COVID-19. Do I still need to get vaccinated?

Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 because, even though you will have some immunity after you have recovered, it estimated that it only lasts a few months. Also the COVID-19 virus mutates constantly creating new variants, like the Delta or the Omicron variant. That means that the COVID-19 you have recovered from may not be the variant that is circulating in your community currently.

A new CDC study published recently found that unvaccinated people who’d recovered from Covid were five times as likely to catch it again, compared to people who got two doses of an mRNA vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna.

According to the study vaccine-induced immunity against Covid is more protective, robust and consistent than natural immunity. In other words, a vaccine will protect you significantly more against getting Covid again, a particular concern as new mutations develop.

The CDC's Official Recommendations:

The CDC currently recommends that people get vaccinated against COVID-19, even if they've had the virus. There are some things to keep in mind though:

• The CDC recommends waiting 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine if you received a monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma treatment when you had the virus. 
• If you have a history of multi system inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) or children (MIS-C), the CDC also recommends delaying the vaccine until you've recovered and it has been 90 days since you were diagnoses. 

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1029-Vaccination-Offers-Higher-Protection.html

6. Who should get a COVID-19 booster shot?

Please refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website to determine if you are eligible for a booster shot: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html#:~:text=When%20Are%20You%20Up%20to,Your%20age

Scheduling Your Booster Shot

Booster doses of all three COVID-19 vaccines are free and widely available at a variety of locations. Community members should visit vaccines.gov or call (919) 913-8088 to find and schedule an appointment.

When Are You Up to Date?

You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines if you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC.

COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are based on three things:

1. Your age
2. The vaccine you first received, and
3. The length of time since your last dose

People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.

You are still up to date if you receive all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for you and then become ill with COVID-19. You do not need to be immediately revaccinated or receive an additional booster.

7. I am immunocompromised. Do I need an additional shot?

A small percentage of community members need an additional dose of their primary series in order to reach full immunity.

• People with moderately to severely compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, and may not build the same level of immunity to 2-dose vaccine series compared to people who are not immunocompromised.
• CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccineor Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
• This additional dose is intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series
• An additional dose is different from a booster shot. READ MORE about the difference between the two. 

NEW AS OF FEBRUARY 2022:

1. NEW: People who initiated vaccination with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine should receive a total of 3 doses: 1 Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen dose, followed by 1 additional mRNA dose at least 28 days later, then 1 booster dose at least 2 months after the 2nd (additional) dose. mRNA vaccines are preferred for the booster.
    
2. NEW: People who received a 3-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccination series should receive the booster dose 3 months after the primary series (instead of 5 months after the primary series).
    
3. CLARIFY: CDC clarified existing guidance to confirm that those who previously received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) should receive a total of 4 doses: a primary series of 3 doses of an mRNA vaccine, plus 1 booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (4th dose).

8. How do the COVID-19 vaccines work?

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. When you get the vaccine, your immune system makes antibodies and other infection-fighting cells that protect you in case you are infected with the virus.

Watch a short video to learn how vaccines fight COVID-19.

9. Will the vaccines cause side effects?

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.

Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. For this reason, the FDA required each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines to be studied for at least two months (eight weeks) after the final dose.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

PDF from CDC: What to Expect After Getting a COVID-19 vaccine

10. How were the COVID-19 vaccines produced so quickly?

Usually, vaccine testing and production are done in multiple, time-consuming, separate steps over several years. Because of the pandemic, the federal government provided special funding to vaccine researchers and manufacturers to allow development, testing and production to happen at the same time. No steps are skipped but the timeline for development can go faster.

Vaccines that have been authorized from Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines. mRNA vaccine technology has been studied and worked with for decades. Interest has grown in these vaccines because they can be developed in a laboratory using readily available materials. This means the process can be standardized and scaled up, making vaccine development faster than traditional methods of making vaccines.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine, a technology first created in the 1970s. For decades, hundreds of scientific studies of viral vector vaccines have been done around the world. They have been used against other infectious diseases like Ebola, Zika, flu and HIV. 

When a vaccine is authorized by EUA, volunteers who get the COVID-19 vaccine are monitored for a shorter time than with the traditional vaccine approval process. Testing for any COVID-19 vaccine involves thousands of volunteers, and at least half of the volunteers are followed for at least 2 months after their last vaccine dose (rather than the 6 or more months in a traditional process). However, by two months, most side effects from vaccines are expected to surface. 

It is possible that rare side effects may only be seen when millions of people are vaccinated. For this reason, the safety of COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be monitored after they are given.

11. Can I get COVID-19 from these vaccines?

No. None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.

12. Can receiving a COVID-19 vaccine cause you to be magnetic?

No. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will not make you magnetic, including at the site of vaccination which is usually your arm. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain ingredients that can produce an electromagnetic field at the site of your injection. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals.

Learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations authorized for use in the United States.

13. Do COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are developed to fight against disease and are not administered to track your movement. Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.

Learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations authorized for use in the United States.

Learn more about how mRNA COVID-19 vaccines work.

14. Can the COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept.

Learn more about mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines.

15. Is it safe for me to get the COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone 5 years of age or older, including people who are trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future, as well as their partners.

Currently no evidence shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and people who would like to have a baby.

"Unfounded claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility have been scientifically disproven," the American Academy of Pediatrics -- which represents doctors who specialize in treating children -- says in a statement on its website.

"There is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility. While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies," it adds.

16. Will getting a COVID-19 vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.

If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

Learn more about the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination

17. What can you do once you are fully vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can do things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

These recommendations can help you make decisions about daily activities after you are fully vaccinated. They are not intended for healthcare settings.

In general, people are considered fully vaccinated: ±

• 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

You can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.

• To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.

• READ MORE: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

18. I missed my 2nd shot of the mRNA vaccine. What should I do?

The first does of an mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) only partially protects you. The second dose is needed to get the maximum immunity to protect yourself from severe illness. It is never too late to get the second shot! For more information, call 919-245-2400.

19. I lost my vaccine card. How can I get a new one?

You may either call 919-245-2400 or visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-vaccine-portal-residents to get a new copy. 
PDF: Accessing Your COVID-19 Vaccine Record, English, Spanish

If you lost your vaccine card, you may not be able to get an exact duplicate paper card, but there are still ways to show proof of vaccination. Printed or digital versions of your proof of vaccination serve as valid replacements for your misplaced vaccine card, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The NCDHHS said that the following options should, in most cases, serve as valid replacements for the physical paper card:

• A digital photo of your CDC Vaccination Record card 
• Printed and/or digital versions of your vaccine information from your provider’s record 
• Printed versions of your vaccine information from the NC Immunization Registry

Note: If you were vaccinated at a national chain pharmacy, like Walgreens, CVS or Costco, you should contact that provider directly. If you received doses through an NC hospital network or at a health department event, you can use a portal to access your vaccine information.

20. How do I host a COVID-19 vaccine event?

Please fill out the Orange County Vaccination Event Request form: https://www.orangecountync.gov/FormCenter/Health-6-6/Orange-County-Vaccination-Event-Request-272-272

21. What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine is when you have been exposed to the virus and may or may not be infected AND you do not have any symptoms.

Isolation is when you are sick or when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms. Isolation separates people who are infected with the virus from others, even in their own home. When in isolation / quarantine you should:

• Stay in a separate room from other members of your household, if possible.
• Use a separate bathroom from other members of your household, if possible.
• Clean your hands often. Wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
• Don’t share personal household items, such as towels, bedding, cups and utensils.
• Wear a well-fitting mask, especially when you need to be around other people in your house.

READ MORE: https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18833/isolation_quarantine_jan_2022-social-media-cards

This INFOGRAPHIC is a visual guide to isolation/ quarantine guidance.

22. If I test positive for COVID-19, what should I do?

If you test positive for COVID-19, you should isolate.

This applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

You should:

• Stay home for 5 days.
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you may leave your house. You should continue to isolate until you are fever free for

24 hours without taking any fever reducing medications.

• Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If you have a fever, continue to isolate.

It should be noted that certain settings such as health care, long-term care facilities and congregant living have different guidance.

Learn more from the CDC website:

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

READ MORE: https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18833/isolation_quarantine_jan_2022-social-media-cards

Treat “Day Zero” as the first day you experienced symptoms.

If you received a positive test but are asymptomatic, treat “Day Zero” as the day you tested positive.

• “Day One” of isolation is the first full day after you exhibited symptoms, or the first full day after you tested positive for asymptomatic people.
• You can leave isolation after five full days.

For example: If you have tested positive for COVID and experienced symptoms for the first time on a Sunday, Sunday is your Day Zero.

Monday would be your Day One.

Friday would be your fifth full day of isolation, and you could leave isolation after completing the fifth day.

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (quarantine) …

AND you are up to date on vaccination

and have no symptoms, the guidance says:

If you have been boosted

OR

Have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 5 months

OR

Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months

You should:

• Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.

If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (quarantine) … 

AND are NOT UP TO DATE on your vaccination (see below for definition) or are unvaccinated the guidance says:

If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 5 months ago and are not boosted

OR

Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted

OR

Are unvaccinated

You should:

• Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
• Test on day 5 if possible.

If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.

If you are immunocompromised, please speak with your medical provider to determine if you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination.

When can I leave isolation if I had COVID-19 symptoms? 

If you tested positive for COVID and had symptoms, you can leave isolation after five full days if you meet the criteria below:

• If you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved, you can end isolation after your fifth full day. The loss of taste and smell may last for months after your diagnosis, so you do not need to wait for those symptoms to subside before ending your 5-day isolation.
• If you continue to have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved after five full days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

After ending your isolation, you should still wear a well-fitting mask around others in your home and in public. If you cannot wear a mask around others or in public, you should isolate for a full 10 days.

23. If I was exposed to someone with COVID-19, what should I do?

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (quarantine) …

AND you are up to date on vaccination

and have no symptoms, the guidance says:

If you have been boosted

OR

Have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 5 months

OR

Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months

You should:

• Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.

If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.

If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (quarantine) … 

AND are NOT UP TO DATE on your vaccination (see below for definition) or are unvaccinated the guidance says:

If you completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 5 months ago and are not boosted

OR

Completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted

OR

Are unvaccinated

You should:

• Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If you can’t quarantine you must wear a mask for 10 days.
• Test on day 5 if possible.

If you develop symptoms get a test and stay home.

If you are immunocompromised, please speak with your medical provider to determine if you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination.

When can I leave isolation if I had COVID-19 symptoms?

If you tested positive for COVID and had symptoms, you can leave isolation after five full days if you meet the criteria below:

• If you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved, you can end isolation after your fifth full day. The loss of taste and smell may last for months after your diagnosis, so you do not need to wait for those symptoms to subside before ending your 5-day isolation.
• If you continue to have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved after five full days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

After ending your isolation, you should still wear a well-fitting mask around others in your home and in public. If you cannot wear a mask around others or in public, you should isolate for a full 10 days.

READ MORE: https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18833/isolation_quarantine_jan_2022-social-media-cards

24. When can I leave isolation if I had COVID-19 symptoms?

If you tested positive for COVID and had symptoms, you can leave isolation after five full days if you meet the criteria below:

• If you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved, you can end isolation after your fifth full day. The loss of taste and smell may last for months after your diagnosis, so you do not need to wait for those symptoms to subside before ending your 5-day isolation.
• If you continue to have a fever or your other symptoms have not improved after five full days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

After ending your isolation, you should still wear a well-fitting mask around others in your home and in public. If you cannot wear a mask around others or in public, you should isolate for a full 10 days.

Read more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

25. One or more health conditions increase the risk of getting very sick with COVID-19. What are those conditions?

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have one or more health conditions that increase your risk of becoming very sick, treatment may be available. Contact a health professional right away after a positive test to determine if you may be eligible, even if your symptoms are mild right now. Don’t delay: Treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

Medical Conditions

• The conditions on this list are in alphabetical order. They are not in order of risk.
• CDC completed a review for each medical condition on this list. This was done to ensure that these conditions met criteria for inclusion on this list. CDC conducts ongoing reviews of additional underlying conditions. If other medical conditions have enough evidence, they might be added to the list.
• Because we are learning more about COVID-19 every day, this list does not include all medical conditions that place a person at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Rare medical conditions, including many conditions that mostly affect children, may not be included on the list below. We will update the list as we learn more.
• A person with a condition that is not listed may still be at greater risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 than other people who do not have the condition. It is important that you talk with your healthcare professional about your risk.

Cancer

Having cancer can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Treatments for many types of cancer can weaken your body’s ability to fight off disease. At this time, based on available studies, having a history of cancer may increase your risk.

Get more information:

• Cancer
• COVID-19: What People with Cancer Should Know – National Cancer Instituteexternal icon

Chronic kidney disease

Having chronic kidney disease of any stage can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Chronic kidney disease
• National Kidney Foundation: Kidney disease and COVID-19external icon

Chronic liver disease

Having chronic liver disease can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Chronic liver disease can include alcohol-related liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and cirrhosis (or scarring of the liver).

Get more information:

• Liver Diseaseexternal icon
• American Liver Foundation: Your Liver & COVID-19external icon

Chronic lung diseases

Having a chronic lung disease can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Chronic lung diseases can include:

• Asthma, if it’s moderate to severe
• Bronchiectasis (thickening of the lungs’ airways)
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease affecting newborns)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Having damaged or scarred lung tissue known as interstitial lung disease (including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs)
• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)

Get more information:

• COPD
• Asthma
• People with Moderate to Severe Asthma
• American Lung Association: Controlling Chronic Lung Diseases Amid COVID-19 external icon

Cystic Fibrosis

Having cystic fibrosis, with or without lung or other solid organ transplant (like kidney, liver, intestines, heart, and pancreas) can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Cystic Fibrosis
• CF and Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (cff.org)external icon

Dementia or other neurological conditions

Having neurological conditions, such as dementia, can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s Association: COVID-19, Alzheimer’s and Dementia external icon

Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)

Having either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Diabetes
• American Diabetes Association: How COVID-19 Impacts People with Diabetesexternal icon

Disabilities

People with some types of disabilities may be more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 because of underlying medical conditions, living in congregate settings, or systemic health and social inequities, including:

• People with any type of disability that makes it more difficult to do certain activities or interact with the world around them, including people who need help with self-care or daily activities
• People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• People with cerebral palsy
• People with birth defects
• People with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• People with learning disabilities
• People with spinal cord injuriesexternal icon
• People with Down syndrome

Get more information:

• People with Disabilities | COVID-19

Heart conditions

Having heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and possibly high blood pressure (hypertension) can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Heart Disease
• American Heart Association: COVID-19external icon
• NHLBI Information & Resources on COVID-19external icon

HIV infection

Having HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• HIV Infection
• Interim Guidance for COVID-19 and Persons with HIVexternal icon

Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)

Some people are immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system. For example, people on chemotherapy or who have had a solid organ transplant, like a kidney transplant or heart transplant. Being immunocompromised can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system. For example, some people inherit problems with their immune system. One example is called Primary immunodeficiency. Other people have to use certain types of medicines for a long time, like corticosteroids, that weaken their immune system. Such long-term uses can lead to secondary or acquired immunodeficiency.

People who are immunocompromised or are taking medicines that weaken their immune system may not be protected even if they are up to date on their vaccines. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for people who are not vaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitting mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare professionals.

After completing the primary series, some moderately or severely immunocompromised people should get an additional primary shot.

Everyone 12 years and older, including immunocompromised people, should get a booster shot. If you are eligible for an additional primary shot, you should get this dose first before you get a booster shot.

Get more information:

• Types of Primary Immune Deficiency Diseasesexternal icon
• Jeffrey Modell Foundationexternal icon
• Immune Deficiency Foundationexternal icon
• Primary Immunodeficiency (PI)

Mental health conditions

Having mood disorders, including depression, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19external icon
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Depressionexternal icon
• Mood Disordersexternal icon

Overweight and obesity

Overweight (defined as a body mass index (BMI) is 25 kg/m² or higher, but under 30 kg/m²), obesity (BMI is  30 kg/m² or higher, but under 40 kg/m²), or severe obesity (BMI is  40 kg/m² or higher), can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. The risk of severe COVID-19 illness increases sharply with higher BMI.

Get more information:

• Overweight & Obesity | CDC
• Obesity, Race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19
• Obesity Action Coalition: COVID-19 and Obesityexternal icon

Physical inactivity

People who do little or no physical activity, or exercise, are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 than those who are physically active. Being physically active (or exercising regularly) is important to being healthy. Get more information on physical activity and health, physical activity recommendations, how to become more active, and how to create activity-friendly communities:

• Physical Activity
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd editionexternal icon
• Move Your Way^®external icon
• Active People, Healthy Nation ^SM: Strategies to Increase Physical Activity
• National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability – Building Healthy Inclusive Communitiesexternal icon

Pregnancy

Pregnant and recently pregnant people (for at least 42 days following end of pregnancy) are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people.

Get more information:

• Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
• Toolkit for Pregnant People and New Parents
• Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 during Pregnancy

Sickle cell disease or thalassemia

Having hemoglobin blood disorders like sickle cell disease (SCD) or thalassemia can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Sickle Cell Disease
• Thalassemia

Smoking, current or former

Being a current or former cigarette smoker can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. If you currently smoke, quit. If you used to smoke, don’t start again. If you’ve never smoked, don’t start.

Get more information:

• Smoking & Tobacco Use
• Tips From Former Smokers
• Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant

Having had a solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, which includes bone marrow transplants, can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Transplant Safety
• COVID-19 Resources for Transplant Communityexternal icon

Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain

Having cerebrovascular disease, such as having a stroke, can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Stroke
• COVID19 Stroke Podcast Series for Patients and Caregivers external icon

Substance use disorders

Having a substance use disorder (such as alcohol, opioid, or cocaine use disorder) can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• How to Recognize a Substance Use Disorderexternal icon
• Drug Overdose

Tuberculosis

Having tuberculosis can make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Get more information:

• Basic TB Facts
• Public Health Emergencies