Does Blood Type Affect COVID-19 Risk?

The Business Press – June 28, 2023 at 12:55AM

Scientists have been looking for factors that may make people more or less vulnerable to COVID-19. Early studies from China suggested that blood type A might be a risk factor, while type O may offer some protection against infection.

Dr. Sean Stowell from Harvard Medical School discovered that cells from people with blood type A are more vulnerable to getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 than those with blood type O.

The reason is that the virus recognizes and binds to antigens from blood type A’s proteins. However, blood type is one of several factors that influence COVID-19 risk.

Regardless of blood type, it is essential to continue taking necessary precautions such as vaccination and wearing masks. The new information may help doctors better manage risk among certain groups, and more research is ongoing.