Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID): Prevention and risks
On this page
- Preventing long COVID with vaccination
- Preventing long COVID with personal protective measures
- Other preventive measures
- Who is most at risk
Preventing long COVID with vaccination
If you don't have COVID-19 right now, getting the vaccine could lower your chances of getting long COVID. Even if you've already had a COVID-19 infection, vaccination can protect you from developing serious complications from COVID-19. If you received a COVID-19 vaccine previously, consider getting a booster dose to reduce your chances of getting long COVID.
Book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment
Preventing long COVID with personal protective measures
You can reduce your risk of long COVID by preventing a COVID-19 infection. Layer many personal protective measures for better protection. The following actions are recommended.
- Wear a mask, especially:
- in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated settings with a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission
- around people who were recently exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19
- Improve your indoor air quality by:
- opening windows and using heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems or portable units
- using air filtration systems
- Gargle with mouthwash 1 to 2 times per day for short periods when the risk of COVID-19 transmission is high.
- For example, risk is high when someone in your household has COVID-19.
- Do not use mouthwash that contains chlorhexidine (this is a common type of antiseptic mouthwash).
Other preventive measures
If you currently have a COVID-19 infection, there are other ways you can reduce the risk of developing long COVID, such as:
- exercising as soon as you feel better
- taking certain medications as prescribed by a health care provider
Talk to your health care provider before starting these preventive measures to ensure this is right for you.
Learn more:
Who is most at risk
Current evidence suggests that some people might be more at risk of developing long COVID, including:
- females
- those with more severe COVID-19 illness, particularly if:
- hospitalized
- admitted to intensive care
- those with underlying chronic conditions
A few studies have suggested that long COVID may be more common in adults than in children.