COVID-19 can make anyone sick, but some people have a higher chance of getting very sick.
You may be more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 if:
- You are not fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19
- You are 65 or older
- You are overweight or obese
- You have ever smoked or vaped regularly
- You are pregnant
Or if you have any of these health conditions:
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung disease, including asthma that needs an inhaler or other medicine
- Cystic fibrosis
- Dementia or other neurological condition
- Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
- Down syndrome
- Heart condition, including high blood pressure
- HIV/AIDS
- Immunocompromised or weakened immune system
- Mental health condition
- On dialysis
- Organ or blood stem cell transplant
- Sickle cell disease
- Stroke or other cerebrovascular disease
- Substance use disorder
- Thalassemia
- Tuberculosis
- Use of prescription steroids or immune weakening medicines
If you have a higher chance of getting very sick from COVID-19, there are things you can do to take care of yourself.
Ways to take care of yourself:
- Limit your in-person activities. When you do an in-person activity, use SAFER COVID-19 to find ways to lower your chance of getting COVID-19.
- Avoid being around people who are sick, or who have been around someone with COVID-19.
- If you care for children, limit their in-person activities.
- Continue to take any regular medicines. Have at least a 30-day supply of all your medicines. You can ask about getting an extra supply of medicine so you don’t have to go to the pharmacy as often.
- If you get sick and think you might have COVID-19, call your doctor right away. If you don’t have a doctor, call a community health center or health department.
- If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the hospital. Do not wait to get emergency care because you are worried about COVID-19. Emergency departments have ways to protect people.
More information from CDC about underlying medical conditions