COVID-19 Risk for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Medical experts convened by the National MS Society agree the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe and should be administered to people with MS. Read the full COVID-19 vaccine guidance.
Current evidence shows that simply having MS does not make you more likely to develop COVID-19 or to become severely ill or die from the infection than the general population. However, certain factors have been shown to increase the risk for a severe case of COVID-19:
Progressive MS
Older age
Male sex
Black race
Using a mobility device or a wheelchair
Having health conditions like obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher), diabetes or heart disease
Corticosteroid use in the past two months
Taking certain disease modifying therapies (see MS Treatment Guidelines During Coronavirus)
Learn more about who is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
MS Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers who treat people living with MS can find additional information in our Professional Resource Center.