Last Updated: February 25, 2021

From our CEO, Randall Rutta:
As news of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 changes by the hour, one fact remains constant: each of us needs to be informed about this public health threat and take actions to protect ourselves and our families. The CDC warns that older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk of getting sick from COVID-19. AARDA strongly encourages people with autoimmune disease to know your risk and take appropriate precautions.
On this page, we are working to share trusted resources that you can turn to for information about the virus and ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from the effects that it will have in the autoimmune community. Below you will find comments and advice from AARDA’s Scientific Advisory Board and our National Board of Directors, as well as links to latest information from trusted sources.

AARDA Joins CV19 Educate America Campaign
AARDA has joined the national CV19 Educate America Campaign to help inform the public about CV19 CheckUp, an online system developed to help Americans be safer, healthier, and ensure their individual needs are met during the pandemic. CV19 CheckUp asks users to complete an easy, quick, confidential questionnaire. A personalized report is immediately provided, outlining the user’s level of risk and offering recommendations and resources to reduce those risks.

Managing Stress in Challenging Times
Robert H. Phillips, Ph.D., Director, The Coping Counselors at the Center for Coping, Hicksville, NY.
Member, AARDA National Board of Directors
The current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been causing increased stress for most people. Both the known facts about the virus, as well as the unknown concerns, can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing for adults and children. It can be helpful to recognize that the way we are affected by anything going on around us is directly related to the way we think about it. Therefore, an important category of coping strategies involves working on your thinking.

COVID-19: A Time to Use Your Autoimmune Superpower to Help Others
Lilly Stairs, Founder & Principal, Patient Authentic LLC ; Vice Chair, AARDA
COVID-19 has turned all of our lives upside down. But for those of us living with autoimmune diseases, the pandemic may feel like it carries more weight for us than it does for most.
Knowing that the common cold can throw our bodies for a loop, thinking about the potential impact if we were to contract COVID-19 is quite frankly, terrifying.
Featured Resources
From AARDA
National Briefing on COVID-19 & Autoimmune Disease: Research Insights, Treatment & Prevention – Webinar recording, October 30
Disease-Specific FAQs from April 3 National Briefing
Coronavirus Coping Q&A (PDF) Written by Robert H. Phillips, Ph.D.
From the Centers for Disease Control
The Path Forward: CDC Director Says Masks are Powerful Tool for Combating Virus
Are You at Higher Risk for Severe Illness?
Others
National Psoriasis Foundation COVID-19 Resource Center
COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS: 11 Things People with Autoimmune Disease Should Know
COVID-19 Resources for Children with Special Health Care Needs
The Antigen Podcast: Latest Vaccine Benefits, Facts & Information
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) – The NIEHS Worker Training Program
Important Resources for the Autoimmune Community
AARDA and other groups serving persons in the autoimmune, serious illness, and chronic condition communities are individually and collectively curating information on the COVID-19 coronavirus and steps to take to avoid contagion and, if infected, to manage the illness. For people with one or more autoimmune diseases, simply managing diagnosed conditions is often pretty challenging. COVID-19 adds new layers of difficulty as patients struggle to access current, accurate information – especially guidance that addresses their unique health care circumstances and needs.
AARDA recommends the following sources of information on COVID-19 as sources of accurate, frequently updated, and trustworthy information for patients, their families and communities.
Autoimmune Groups Rally to Provide Accurate COVID-19 Information to Our Community
AARDA recognizes that many of our autoimmunity community partner organizations, including patient groups and other stakeholders, have expertise in addressing the challenge of this novel coronavirus pandemic and are sources of valuable information and advice. Selected resources follow:
- American Academy of Neurology COVID-19 Neurology Resource Center
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Coronavirus and Eye Care
- American Academy of Otolaryngology Coronavirus Disease 2019: Resources
- American College of Rheumatology (ACR) ACR Announcement: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- American Liver Foundation – Your Liver and COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
- American Society of Nephrology (ASN) COVID-19 Information
- American Thoracic Society (ATS) Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): The ATS Response
- American Urological Association Education and Research (AUA) COVID-19 Resources
- The Arthritis Foundation – Coronavirus and Arthritis: What You Need to Know
- Celiac Disease Foundation – Celiac Disease and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) – IDF Statement on COVID-19
- The International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis (IFAiArthritis) – Special Coverage: COVID-19 & AiArthritis
- Lupus Foundation of America – Coronavirus and Lupus
- Myasthenia Gravis Foundation Of America – Community News
- The Myositis Association – Information for Clinicians
- National Addison’s Disease Foundation – COVID-19
- National Eczema Association – Ask the Ecz-perts: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- National Infusion Center Association –COVID-19 Guidance & Resource Toolkit
- National Kidney Foundation – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society – What You Need To Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Psoriasis Foundation of America – Coronavirus Concerns?
- PANDAS Network – What PANDAS/PANS Families Should Know About the Coronavirus
- The Platelet Disorder Support Association – PDSA Statement on COVID-19 & ITP Conference 2020
- The Sjögren’s Foundation – Coronavirus and the Sjögren’s Foundation Updates
- Vasculitis Foundation – Coronavirus – COVID-19