Researchers found inconsistent findings but did identify certain trends suggesting that blood type A might predispose one to increased susceptibility to infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), or that type O and Rh-negative blood groups might be protective. Blood type O seems to have the lowest risk. Some of the blood clots were an unusual type of blood clot in blood vessels that drain blood from the brain called a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. "The resulting brownie is the same, though.". However, they did not find strong evidence for a relationship between blood group and risk of intubation or death. "The data that was already generated from the bivalent BA.1 vaccine, the human data, really gave the FDA the confidence that they could approach approving this new bivalent shot," Dr. Martinello says, adding that this kind of approval system is similar to the annual flu vaccine. Specifically, they sought out folks in the U.S. diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19. It's been called COVID. A 2012 meta-analysis found that having a non-O blood type was among the most important genetic risk factors for venous thromboembolism.5. And people with some blood disorders like sickle cell disease are resistant to malaria, added Dr. Adalja. My understanding is that people withTypeO blood are less susceptible than people with other blood types. Following his second dose, he noted fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, severe fatigue, and dark urine. Patients 2, 3, and 4 experienced severe hemolysis with 2 to 4 g/dL hemoglobin decrease. S1 did not increase hemolysis of PNH erythrocytes as compared with aNHS alone (Figure 1). Is the COVID-19 thrombotic catastrophe complement-connected? Characteristics of patients with PNH and COVID-19 vaccine reactions. What You Need to Know I have read that it is important that a large percentage of people get the vaccine. Recent data suggest the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds heparan sulfate on nucleated cells9 and amplifies the alternative pathway of complement through interference with the binding of CFH, an alternative pathway inhibitor.5 However, CFH primarily binds sialic acid on human erythrocytes,10 and mature erythrocytes express little heparan sulfate.11. You also shouldn't expect a lighter immune response, either. - Drug Monographs Common Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine side effects may include: fever, chills; redness or a hardness and swelling where the shot was given; swelling or tenderness under your arm; nausea, vomiting; feeling tired; or. These usually last from a few hours to a few days after vaccination. Deep, healing sleep, reducing stress, walking or other forms of gentle exercise, plus pampering yourself, are important for helping to create a robust immune system. and elicited consistent side effects as compared to other COVID-19 vaccines, according to Dr. Martinello. In populations at high-risk for exposure, such as healthcare workers, essential workers, and people exposed to a known case of the disease, the O blood type had an even greater protective effect, reducing the risk of acquiring the virus by 19 percent. At this point in time, there does not appear to be any relationship between blood type and COVID-19related severity of illness or mortality.". This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Others have side effects that affect their ability to do daily activities. What this means is that the white blood cells that are stimulated by the vaccine to make antibodies themselves have to secrete chemicals called cytokines, interferons and chemokines, which function to send messages from cell to cell to become activated.. As far as determining your blood type, its unlikely to be part of your medical record at MIT Medical. These cases have been mild and self-resolving. The first study, conducted by Danish researchers, analyzed data from more than 473,000 people tested for COVID-19 with data from a control group of more than 2.2m non-tested people. Side effects generally go away in a few days. But weve known for a while that the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 gets into cells by attaching to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 receptors and that the disease can affect blood clotting, causing cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary problems. That is not to say that there have never been safety issues with vaccines. Although many vaccines can lead to hemolysis and thrombosis in PNH, this effect is mitigated in most patients on complement inhibitors. The aRR for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the O blood group was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.92) vs all other blood groups, and the ARD was -3.9 per 1,000 (95% CI, -5.4 to -2.5). If not, you can order an inexpensive kit to test your blood at home by pricking your finger to get a small blood sample, which you can then mix with antibodies to the A and B antigens that come on the card. COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild side effects after the first or second dose, including: Pain, redness or swelling where the shot was given Fever Fatigue Headache Muscle pain Chills Joint pain Nausea and vomiting Swollen lymph nodes Feeling unwell Most side effects go away in a few days. Similar disease flares may be anticipated in other complement-mediated disorders, such as complement-mediated hemolytic uremic syndrome, cold agglutinin disease, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, and HELLP syndrome.17 As SARS-CoV-2 leads to a severe inflammatory state, the benefits of vaccinating patients with PNH likely outweigh the risks; however, clinicians and patients should be aware of this serious adverse effect, and patients should be educated to report any symptoms postvaccination. However, for the Pfizer jab the reverse appears to be true. Blood type may influence other infections, as well. Search for other works by this author on: Complement associated microvascular injury and thrombosis in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 infection: a report of five cases. - Conference Coverage Your comment will be reviewed and published at the journal's discretion. MF 8 a.m. 8 p.m. The media is not telling us to strengthen our immune systems or provide us with information on how to do this. The lymph nodes become tender and swell up within two to four days after the COVID-19 vaccination, and the swelling can last up to six to eight weeks. They have also been shown to be very good at lowering the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19 if you are infected. A side effect or reaction isn't necessarily all bad, by the way; it may indicate that the body is building protection against the virus. The researchers did find evidence suggesting a relationship between blood type and COVID-19 risk. A transcript of the podcast is below the summary. The question of a possible relationship between blood type and disease risk has been a topic of active research since early in the pandemic. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In November 2021 in The New England Journal of Medicine, he proposed that an autoimmune mechanism triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein might explain both Long Covid symptoms and some rare vaccine side effects, and he called for more basic research to probe possible connections. Studies of the accuracy of serologic tests for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins may assess whether there is variation in antibody titers by ABO and Rh status, the authors noted. "Reassuring the public that everything is being done . But no vaccine is 100% effective, so some people who are fully vaccinated might still become infected with COVID-19 and get sick. While the link between blood type and COVID-19 risk is still unclear, it's important to note that there have been links between blood type and diseases in the past. Approximately 12 hours after receiving the second dose of the Moderna mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine, she had a fever (39C) and rigors. But for young adults that equation, at least at present, is less clearcut. 8 Potential Bivalent Vaccine Side Effects. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within two weeks of vaccination. We postulate that strong complement amplification as a byproduct of the inflammatory response is responsible for the clinically observed hemolysis, as has been reported with other vaccines, infections, and surgeries. But how? "We do know that people of all types can get infected with COVID-19," says cardiologist Daniel Anderson, MD, PhD. "Most side effects are mild or moderate and . Getty/David Greedy Common side effects include fatigue and headache Once a vaccine goes into your arm, your blood flow increases and immune cells rush to the scene. Fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint aches and fever are all potential side effects as well. Researchers think the clotting may be triggered by the high . What Research Says About the Link Between COVID-19 and Blood Type, What the Blood Link Research Means for You. Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. Some people with COVID-19 develop abnormal blood clots, including in the smallest blood vessels. In both trials, the most commonly reported side effects within a week of injection were: According to current FDA publications, there's also a chance that swelling may occur in lymph nodes within the same arm as the injection site. "There's a fairly decent amount of existing literature beyond SARS-CoV-2" that certain blood types can play a role in disease risk and severity, says Joel Ray, M.D., a clinician scientist and professor at St. Michael's . Virologists and vaccine experts explore what we know below. Furthermore, among ongoing clinical trials of immunotherapy using convalescent plasma or of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the interaction between participant blood groups and therapeutic efficacy could be measured.. It is not clear to me why. The spread of new variants can also increase the risk of reinfection. These acute stressors are like a "treadmill test for the pancreas," and the pancreas fails. As with all vaccines, side effects may occur after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The other half is the adaptive response which learns and then remembers how to fight an infection by designing B . The O- blood group also seemed protective, with an aRR of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.66-0.83) and an ARD of -8.2 per 1,000 (95% CI, -10.8 to -5.3). Women and younger adults tend to have more side effects than men or older adults do. Comparatively, the highest unadjusted probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection was in the B+ blood group (4.2%; 95% CI, 4.0-4.5%). The work described baseline rates of the AESIs . There is a higher risk of myocarditis from COVID itself than there is from . It was through these findings, that the Danish researchers suggested: "That blood group O is significantly associated with reduced susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection.". loss of smell. The NEJM study analyzed genetic data from more than 1,600 patients who had been hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19 in Italy and Spain and compared them with about 2,200 uninfected individuals. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated masking guidelines since this was written. Are the Vaccines Safe? We call this the viral load. Diet is also key, and as you are probably well aware of by now if youve been following me a healthy microbiome is a must. Contribution: G.F.G. The Impact of Coronavirus Blood Clots Throughout the Body. Dr. Susan R. Bailey, an allergist, immunologist and president of the American Medical Association, said side effects develop because your immune system is reacting to the vaccine. Concerns have been raised about a particular situation whereby certain blood clots have occurred together with low levels of platelets tiny cells in the blood that help it to clot. Indeed, coagulopathy (problems with bleeding disorders) is common in COVID-19, with dangerous blood clots being a hallmark of the disease. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. Read said: We are a little baffled about this, but it may be due to the fact that the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine has an adenovirus vector, which stimulates the immune system strongly in the first dose and less strongly in the second.. It also can be potentially quite large and thus a bit unsettling. Omicron vs. Delta: How the 2 COVID-19 Variants Compare, ShinglesHerpes ZosterInfection May Be Linked to the COVID-19 Vaccine. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Instead, being armed with greater knowledge about your blood type could provide extra incentive to be cautious and build your immune system. Uncommon side-effects include having swollen lymph nodes. You asked, we answered: Does vaccine herd immunity work? In patients with severe disease, deposition of terminal complement and microthrombosis have been observed in the lung, skin, kidney, and heart.14 Recently, we demonstrated that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein leads to amplification of the alternative pathway of complement on cell surfaces through competition with complement factor H (CFH) for binding heparan sulfate.5 Thus, in vitro, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can convert an inactivator surface to an activator surface on nucleated cells. GWAS is a methodology used in genetics research to identify specific genetic variations associated with particular diseases. Whether you know your blood type or not, its still necessary for your sake and the sake of those around you to follow public health precautions, such as handwashing, mask-wearing, physical distancing, and staying home to stay safe. When side effects occur, they typically last just a few days. Blood 2021; 137 (26): 36703673. But recently, the genetics company 23andMe revealed preliminary data from their own study showing that a person's blood type, which is determined by the ABO gene, appears to affect susceptibility to coronavirus. Lexington, MA 02421. According to Public Health England, most side-effects from two Covid vaccines - Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca - are mild and short-lived. His symptoms resolved after 5 days. "Masks are important because they filter out some of the virus and decreases the viral load, which makes the infection less severe," says Dr. Anderson. In addition, COVID-19 vaccination might offer better protection than getting sick with COVID-19.A recent study showed that unvaccinated people who already . After adjusting for confounding factors, such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, BMI, and high-risk co-morbidity or being immunocompromised, those with blood type O were, on average, 14-percent less likely to acquire a COVID-19 infection and 19-percent less likely to be hospitalized for the infection. denotes no information is available; AST, aspartate amino transferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; N/A, not applicable; RBC red blood cell. The most commonly reported reaction was a raised, sometimes itchy red rash, often at the site of the injection, which can occur up to a week or so after being vaccinated. If you download your genome as raw data from 23andMe and run it through software, such as Promethease, you can find out whether you have the wild type or a variant of rs505922. All vaccines could cause some degree of reaction, and the same is true for COVID-19 vaccines. The risk of death was increased for type AB and decreased for types A and B. But again, experts say it's too early to know for sure. Current authorizations are based on these previous studies, as laid out by health regulators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists risk factors that have been identified for developing severe COVID-19, and blood type does not appear. "This is a similar process that we go through with our annual influenza vaccination.". It's important to note that individuals will react to these bivalent booster vaccines differently while the most common side effect is pain or swelling at the injection site, many people may feel more severe side effects, and unique combinations of the symptoms listed above. Remember that 70 percent of your immune system is determined by the microbiome in your gut.8 At Body Ecology, we promote the use of certain (but not all) fermented foods to not only nourish you but to nourish your gut and immune system as well. If your clinician has ordered medically necessary blood typing for you in the past, the result would be available in your patient portal. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Association between ABO and Rh blood groups and SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 illness. The AstraZeneca and J&J jabs are based on a similar technology. Those symptoms are similar in all vaccines, but in the two-dose vaccines, they are more common after the second shot. We hope youre enjoying the latest clinical news, full-length features, case studies, and more. Type O individuals have anti-A and anti-B antibodies, while type A individuals only have one kind: anti-B antibodies. 14% had at least one whole-body (systemic) after-effect - such as fever, aches or chills - within seven days of the first dose, rising to about 22% after the second dose These after-effects get. Read said that for some people the process was without symptoms, but for others it generated these common side-effects. Notably, she took danicopan throughout her first vaccination and did not experience breakthrough hemolysis. Correspondence: Robert A. Brodsky, Division of Hematology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Ave, Ross Research Bldg, Room 1025, Baltimore, MD 21205; e-mail: brodsro@jhmi.edu. These findings, completed in two months under very . Your friend would have a worse case of COVID-19 because they were infected with more virus. If you wish to read unlimited content, please log in or register below. Water (H2O) serves as a positive control. - Full-Length Features In other words, the benefits of the jab far outweigh the risks. The question researchers are trying to answer is why blood type matters. Sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus strongly advises that getting a good nights sleep is essential before you go in for the vaccine in order to build a healthy antibody response.7. This variant is associated with a 12-percent reduced odds ratio of testing positive for COVID-19.1. You could . Five days after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, he developed abdominal pain leading to evaluation in an emergency department. Feeling tired. No change is recommended in COVID-19 vaccination practice. All the evidence we have is that there isnt a correlation, said Simon Kroll, professor of paediatrics and molecular infectious diseases at Imperial College London. Investigations are also under way into the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid jab amid concerns it may be linked to a similar blood-clotting problem: so far six cases of CVST with low platelets have been reported amid 6.8m doses of the vaccine given in the US, all of which were in women aged between 18 and 48. The O- blood group did not appear protective against severe COVID-19 illness and death (aRR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.64-1.07) compared with other blood groups. Experts aren't expecting a dramatic shift in side effects triggered by new COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccines targeted toward Omicron spread. Similar figures were true for Moderna recipients, as 59% of patients indicated they'd experienced fatigue after their shot, but only 4% reported it at a severe level. This news story has not been updated since the date shown. You sit 7 feet away from both of them. Hemolysis is not increased with addition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 to PNH erythrocytes. - And More, Close more info about Type O and Rh-Negative Blood Type Protective Against COVID-19, Reproductive Organ Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Association between ABO and Rh blood groups and SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 illness. Individuals with Type A blood type also represented a higher percentage of patients who succumbed to the illness 41 percent versus 25 percent for Type O. Conflict-of-interest disclosure: R.A.B. should be listed as a very rare side-effect of the vaccine, adults under the age of 30 should be offered alternative Covid vaccines, under way into the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid jab. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. While the distribution of blood types is different in New York City than in Wuhan and Shenzhen, after controlling for other risk factors, they found that individuals with Type A blood were 34 percent more likely to test positive for the coronavirus, while having Type O or AB blood was associated with a lower probability of testing positive. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements/products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The answer remains elusive but may be connected to how the virus attaches itself to your cells and how your genes influence the number and type of receptors on those cells, as well as to your overall risk of cardiovascular problems. Two messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines that lead to transient expression of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are highly efficacious in preventing severe infection.6,7 Reactions to these vaccines are generally mild; however, increased complement amplification could theoretically lead to more severe effects in diseases like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), where blood cells lack complement regulatory proteins.8 Here, we describe significant adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines in 4 patients with PNH. Ann Intern Med.