If you have done this recently, you are 70% more likely to be COVID

During much of the pandemic, experts have warned certain groups of people, including people over 65 and those with pre-existing conditions, that they are at increased risk of suffering from a serious illness if they contract COVID. Now, a new study has found that a group of people have a higher risk of contracting coronavirus in general. Read on to find out if you’re more likely to get COVID and find ways to stay healthy. Inhaling it could reduce your serious risk of COVID by 90%, the study found.

A study published on February 15 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that if you have recently become pregnant, you may be at a higher risk of contracting COVID. According to the study, the rate of COVID infection was 70% higher among pregnant women than other adults of similar age in Washington state. Using data, researchers estimated that 13.9 in 1,000 people who gave birth to a child had COVID, compared to 7.3% in 1,000 state residents between the ages of 20 and 39. And to learn more about the risk factors for coronavirus, if you have your blood, you may be safe from severe COVID.

This study concludes that there is a case to be made for pregnant women to be placed on priority vaccination lists. The researchers noted that their findings “associated with wider recognition that pregnancy is a risk factor for severe disease and maternal mortality strongly suggest that pregnant women should be given high priority for COVID-19 vaccine allocation. in the USA”

While some states have included pregnant women in the next phase of priority immunization, others have left them out. In a Feb. 15 statement from the University of Washington, co-author of the study Kristina Adams Waldorf, MD, said, “Vaccine distribution plans vary a bit, state by state, and pregnant women are excluded from the allocation prioritization in about half of the US states. Many states don’t even tie their COVID-19 vaccine allocation plans with the high-risk medical conditions listed by the CDC – which include pregnancy. “And for more information on coronaviruses, don’t do it until a month after your COVID vaccine, experts warn.

When the researchers tried to identify the reasons why pregnant women were infected at a higher rate, they looked at their surroundings. “The higher infection rates among pregnant patients may be due to the overrepresentation of women in many professions and industries considered critical during the COVID-19 pandemic – including healthcare, education, healthcare sectors services “, main author Erica Lokken, PhD, said in a statement. “Pregnant women can also have larger households, children in day care centers or playgroups, and be caregivers in extended families.

In addition, the state of your immune system during pregnancy could contribute to the increased rate of infection. “Although not considered an immunocompromised condition, pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of disease severity for some infections and potentially, the risk of acquisition,” according to the study. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.

The study found that the COVID infection rate of pregnant women was higher in non-white populations. “Our data indicates that pregnant women have not avoided the pandemic as we hoped, and communities of color bear the greatest burden,” Adams said in the statement. According to the study, the greatest disparities were found among Hispanic, Native American / Alaskan Native, and Hawaiian / Pacific Islander women. And for news on vaccine availability, here’s who can get the remaining vaccine at Walgreens, CVS and Walmart.