It was a privilege to be at @covidinquiryuk as part of @LongCovidKids last week.
Over 100,000 children are affected in the UK. They live with horrendous symptoms every day. Some like my son have had to give up physical activity, friendships and full-time education.
Others are confined to bed, invisible to society; unable to tolerate light, sound and even food and drink.
There are no approved treatments and no proper services for these children. Families are often forced to seek private healthcare. On top of this, they have to fight to be believed; too many have been accused of fabricating their child’s disease simply for advocating for them or because the child’s attendance has dropped below targets.
It is not a few months of lockdown or masking that has damaged the health of our children. It is the recurrent exposure to a deadly vascular virus which continues to kill & disable millions.
Covid never went away; we know that the risk of Long Covid is cumulative (5% with each infection). The risk of acquiring it can be dramatically reduced by cleaning the air in indoor spaces; yet there is zero investment into this area, and children continued to be forced back to unsafe classrooms. This is despite the evidence that apart from reducing the risk of respiratory infections, ventilation improves academic performance and attendance.
Of his (at least) 5 infections, 3 of my son’s were acquired through school.
We wouldn’t drink dirty water; why are we happy to breathe dirty air?
I hope this inquiry results in some accountability for those responsible for the negligence that has resulted in the mass disabling of millions of children and adults. And that there is increased recognition of the need for treatment, support and most fundamentally, for these children & their families to be believed.
This is for you my boy 👦🏼❤️.
‘Abbu’ will never stop fighting for you.
#COVIDinquiry #children #longcovid #longcovidkids #publicinquiry #volunteers
@EvriDeliveryCom hi Evri what do I do if you have lost my parcel but claim to have delivered it? I have no proof of delivery and no email confirmation. The chatbot is not able to help. How do I speak to a real
Person to complain and find my parcel?
@NickyProctor Listen to parents/carers, make room for advocates, and accept that patients and carers/family have detailed knowledge of lived experience and often better understanding of medical conditions than many GPs
@sunsopeningband Please remember a specific mention for children, especially as they might not present with same symptoms as adults, or have vocabulary to articulate how they feel. Thank you 🙏
The Long Covid groups speak as one today, telling the world that anyone can get #LongCovid
Please share our message and call for treatment, #CleanAir and support for the millions living with Long Covid.
#ItCouldHappenToYou
https://t.co/U5MEV0KYjz
🗓️ Today is the day… 📣 Long Covid Groups Awareness Campaign comes together.
🚚 On the day the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, our “It Could Happen To You” digivan campaign will hit the streets of London.
Today Boris Johnson is at the Covid Inquiry.
So are we.
Today we deliver a letter to No10 requesting investment into research and trials for Long Covid.
Please sign our petition.
https://t.co/ytePNy6KjV
https://t.co/Bcv361RQRl
#LongCovid#LongCovidKids#ItCouldHappenToYou
1.9 MILLION people (at last count) are living with #LongCovid
This includes 62,000 kids
Anyone can get Long Covid
#ItCouldHappenToYou
Over 2,000 signatures since yesterday. Let’s keep this momentum going & deliver the letter tomorrow with as many signatures as possible 🔗👇🏼
ANYONE CAN GET LONG COVID
#ItCouldHappenToYou
PLEASE share the messages we are putting out on Social Media this week
We are working in unison with the other #LongCovidGroups on behalf of the #LongCovidCommunity and the wider public to get the message out.
🔗 below 👇🏼