Hi, I just recently found this group. I'm 66 and was told long ago (by a Dr. after having bloodwork done) I have thal. minor. My mother and her mother also had it and both my mother an I were only children due to the problems that occured during pregnancy. I never had kids. My mother would become slightly anemic from time to time, though I never have that I'm aware of. I'm curious about how it relates to Covid and other contagious diseases. Although I'm in great health overall, I've never had what people call a "little" cold. Any kind of virus was always a long ordeal. I've avoided Covid thus far but I know the odds are stacked against me, even though I'm vaccinated. My maternal side is Italian and I remember how Covid swept through Italy at the beginning of the pandemic. Are there any studies showing correlation with thalassemia?