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Blood Type Doesn't Increase Or Reduce Risk Of Contracting COVID, Studies Find

Amid the misinformation spread during the pandemic has been a belief that people with certain blood types are at higher or lower risk than others of contracting the coronavirus.

"No one should think they’re protected."

"No one should think they’re protected."

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Two recent studies from reputable sources, however, found that Type A blood doesn't increase the odds that you'll be infected.

Earlier during the pandemic, researchers said preliminary evidence suggested that blood type was a key factor for possibly contracting COVID or getting dangerously ill.

A study published more than a month ago in the New England Journal of Medicine claimed a 45% higher risk of COVID infection in people with Type A blood.

Recent studies done at Massachusetts General Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York have trashed that theory.

Although the researchers said evidence suggested people with Type O blood may have less of a risk of infection, the difference was so minimal as to be inconsequential, they said.

Blood type also didn't affect whether people have a greater or lesser chance of being placed on a ventilator or dying, the studies found.

Anahita Dua, a Massachusetts General vascular surgeon who was that study's senior author, told The New York Times she "wouldn’t even bring it up” as a risk factor.

"No one should think they’re protected,” added Nicholas Tatonetti, a data scientist who co-authored the Columbia Presbyterian study.

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The Columbia Presbyterian Study

The Massachusetts General Hospital Study

On one thing all agree: Results of the research can't help protect anyone from the risk of contracting COVID-19. What you can do is wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands no matter what blood type you have.

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