Let me tell you a COVID story that began four days after Christmas 2020. My wife woke up feeling extra tired and a little “off.” A day later she had a slight fever and lost all sense of taste and smell.
So, right before New Year’s, we decided to go have COVID tests for both of us at the OU Health Sciences Center. Paula’s test came back positive for COVID. Mine was negative.
Within a day or so, the only symptoms remaining for Paula were loss of taste and smell. I had no symptoms and felt great, even though we are together roughly 24 hours a day during the pandemic.
At the end of the next week, we went back for another COVID test. Paula was positive again. I was negative again.
So, we waited another week and went back for tests. This time both Paula and I were negative.
All of which leads me to the question of how did I remain COVID negative when I live with a COVID positive person? We eat together and sleep together.
My 87-year old mother had her own theory. She suggested that my blood type – O-negative – afforded me immunity to the COVID virus.
I laughed. She had nothing more than conjecture to base that on.
However, I Googled the topic and came up with a report from a 2020 study that showed people with O-negative blood DID show a certain immunity to COVID. Not immune, but less likely to get sick from it.
More confirmation was received this morning when my friend Debbie Cox sent me the link to an article that reported an even newer study. It showed O-Negative people and those with type B blood were less likely to get sick from COVID than their Type A counterparts.
Here’s a clip from the article:
“Published on March 3, 2021 in the scientific journal Blood Advances, the study indicates that the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, appears to have a blood type preference. In particular, COVID-19 seems to gravitate towards blood group A in respiratory cells. The study also shows that there’s no preference towards respiratory or red blood cells in type B and O blood groups. It’s worth pointing out that the study does not show that people with blood types B and O are immune to the virus, but it does suggest that blood type A individuals are more likely to get infected.”
Another study published last year by Blood Advances also showed people with blood type O were the least likely to get infected by COVID-19.
Those studies are not exactly saying that my O-negative blood provides COVID immunity, but I’ll take what evidence is presented.
Plus, I received both shots of the Pfizer vaccine back in January.
So, you might say that I’m feeling bulletproof today.
Mom always knows.
Jim Stafford's BlogOKC 