Summarised by Centrist
As the Royal Commission’s COVID inquiry begins its public hearings this week, “Long Covid” sufferers say they are being sidelined.
This is despite new research suggesting the condition is more common than previously recorded.
Catherine Appleby, a former nurse and spokesperson for Long Covid Support Aotearoa, said the exclusion was “a massive mistake.”
Appleby contracted COVID in 2022, at a time when vaccinations were widespread following the national rollout in 2021. “COVID is still around, and the Long Covid numbers are likely to increase,” she said. “Even if you are immunised, the estimate is up to 10% of people who catch the infection will get Long Covid.”
A new Otago-led study published in the International Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health found that over 20 percent of children and young people in New Zealand are experiencing persistent health problems following COVID.
These include fatigue, headaches, anxiety, and school absences severe enough to impact daily life. “These symptoms weren’t just happening; they were actually limiting their ability to participate in life,” said lead author Associate Professor Julie Bennett.
Despite this, Long Covid is not on the agenda at this week’s hearings, which instead focus on lockdown decisions and vaccine mandates.
