It is important to know your risk of getting severe illness from COVID-19, as well as the risks of people you live with and spend time with. Knowing when you and/or others have increased risk of severe illness will help you decide what added layers of protection are needed to protect yourself and others.
It is recommended that people who are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 AND members of their household take extra precautions and add additional layers of protection as situational risks increase.
If you have increased risk of severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are eligible for antiviral treatment if you do get COVID-19.
Risk factors that increase the chance of becoming seriously ill if infected with COVID-19 include:
- being unvaccinated against COVID-19. One of the best ways to protect yourself from getting serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and stay up to date with recommended vaccinations.
- 60 years of age and older
- immunocompromised or are taking immunosuppressant medications
- pregnant or recently gave birth
- obesity (BMI of 30 or more)
- diabetes
- heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure
- chronic respiratory disease, including cystic fibrosis
- cerebral palsy
- developmental disability or intellectual disability (e.g., down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome)
- Sickle cell disease
- kidney disease
- liver disease (for example, Child Pugh Class B or C cirrhosis).