Does Asthma Make Me Eligible for the COVID vaccine?

 

(Shutterstock image)

 

Does having asthma move you up the eligibility list to get COVID? 

Well, it depends.....how's that for a non answer?!

Some states consider asthma a high risk medical condition, but some don't. That worries me, because  there are so many different types of asthma. A person who uses their inhaler once or twice a year is NOT the same as someone who has been in the hospital multiple times for asthma. 

My kids were in the hospital 12 times for asthma (2 of those were in ICU). Having a child almost die from asthma is VERY different from someone that uses their inhaler once in a while. 

My state doesn't consider asthma to be a high risk medical condition - which means I am still VERY worried about my adult kids. Just because your kids are adults doesn't mean you can stop worrying about them ya know! 😁

Why are those with asthma NOT high risk for COVID? 

A February study reviewed 57 other studies with over 1/2 a million people with asthma. They looked at how people with asthma fared after they got COVID. 

The study said that those with asthma were not at increased risk of death. 

Why? The researcher said that:

"Chemical receptors in the lungs that the virus binds to are less active in people with a particular type of asthma and some studies suggest that inhaled corticosteroids—commonly used to treat asthma—can reduce their activity even further," 

People with asthma may be more worried about COVID, so they are more careful about taking their daily, controller medicine. Normally, families that I help with asthma don't take their daily controller daily. They take it once or twice a week. 

It sounds like people are being more careful and taking it every day now. 

What is your state doing?

You can contact your statewide or local health department to find the distribution schedule. This article has rounded up all of the information from states.

Until my adult kids can qualify, they are still being VERY careful. They still wear their masks and duck out of any activities with friends. 

 

Check your state and see when you are eligible. 

 

Good luck!