The ABC's (Autoimmunity, Blood Type, Cytokines) in Types and Severity of Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines.

Abstract

Based on initial reports of the association of blood types, especially type A, on increasing susceptibility and more severe disease in patients with Covid-19 disease, an observational study was performed to determine if there would be any correlation of bad side effects to the COVID-19 vaccines, associated with blood types, especially type A. At the time of study, only mRNA vaccines had been approved and available, thus Moderna and Pfizer were the ones evaluated. If an association was found, then the same evaluation could be done with vector vaccines, such as Johnson and Johnson, which was recently approved. Vaccine reactions were categorized as “Bad”, if the participant experienced 6 of 9 of the following symptoms: fever (temperature >100.4 F), extreme fatigue, headaches, body aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, arm soreness > 3 days, and numbness in any area of the body. “Moderate”, having 3 or 4 of the symptoms and “Mild”, having 1 or 2 symptoms. Comparing participants with bad reactions; 28 of 39 type A (71.7%) vs. 4 of 39 type O (10.2%) experienced bad reactions, (Chi-square found P<.001). When comparing participants with at least moderate reactions, type A, B, AB together (52) vs. type O (39), there were 40/52 (76.9%) in type A, B & AB group, vs. 7/39 (17.9%) in type O people. There have been reported findings of patients with prolonged, long term and chronic health consequences, months after the initial illness, referred to as (Long COVID). If these are seen as a result of vaccination too, especially those with severe initial reactions, people may find themselves deciding if the risk of developing a chronic illness, outweighs the risk of acquiring the COVID-19 disease. Abbreviations: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19); World Health Organization (WHO); Center for Disease Control (CDC); Acute Respiratory Syndrome (ARS); Electric Health Record (EHR); Emergency Use Authorization (EUA); Interleukins (IL).