Many adults make a full recovery from Covid-19 but for a significant number of people, the road to rehabilitation doesn’t end once they are clear of the infection. It’s estimated that over a million people in the UK continue to experience chronic symptoms – ranging from shortness of breath to extreme tiredness – for months after their body is clear of Covid disease, a condition known as Long Covid.
The issue is so concerning that £19.6 million of government funding through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has been allocated for an extensive programme of 15 new research studies that will help improve understanding of Long Covid and identify effective treatments.
More than 47 million people in the UK have had their first dose of a Covid vaccine – that’s nearly 90% of the adult population – there are still many who have not had one dose – leaving them less protected against the virus and Long Covid.
More than a year on from when he contracted Covid-19, Paresh Patel, 48, is still experiencing the aftereffects of the illness.
The dentist contracted Covid in March 2020. He first suspected he had the virus when he experienced a fever and shortness of breath, some of the symptoms typically associated with the disease of which very little was known at the time.
While Paresh didn’t require hospitalisation, an oxygen concentrator, a device prescribed to patients who don’t have enough oxygen in their blood, was sent to his home and he was prescribed medication to improve his condition. Despite this, it would take around four weeks until he started to feel slightly better.
Paresh says: “When I realised I had Covid-19 I was initially a little worried but this escalated when my symptoms became much worse.”
He’s now had both doses of the vaccine and couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
“I felt very relieved for the population when the rollout occurred and definitely feel there is a huge gain to be made from the vaccination programme,” Paresh says. “I feel reassured that with a vaccination, if I were to catch Covid again, the symptoms should not be so bad.”
Paresh isn’t alone in suffering poor health long beyond the infection is out of his system. Recent research estimates that more than 2 million people in England may have had Long Covid.
Some even experience prolonged symptoms of the virus after an initial mild case of Covid-19 disease.
While information on Long Covid is limited, research shows that two doses of a Covid vaccine decreases the risk of Covid-19 infection by more than 80%, therefore reducing the possibility of Long Covid.
While research into the impact of vaccines on Long Covid is ongoing, a recent report suggests that the risk of Long Covid is substantially reduced in individuals who have received double vaccination.
Data shows that across all age groups, the odds of experiencing symptoms for more than 28 days after post-vaccination infection was approximately halved by two doses.
Getting vaccinated against Covid is the best way to protect yourself and others from Covid-19 and Long Covid.
To book your Covid vaccination appointment, visit nhs.uk/CovidVaccine or call 119 free of charge.
Contact your GP if you’re worried about symptoms 4 weeks or more after having Covid-19.