Vancouver protesters ask for more funding, research into long COVID
Protesters advocating for increased government funding and treatment for individuals suffering from long COVID gathered at a demonstration at the Vancouver Art Gallery over the weekend. Long COVID is a persistent condition characterized by symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue that can linger for months or even years after an initial COVID-19 infection.
While the exact number of individuals in British Columbia affected by long COVID remains unknown, a Statistics Canada report from December 2023 estimated that 3.5 million Canadians reported experiencing long-term symptoms post-COVID-19, with approximately 100,000 individuals unable to resume work or school due to the condition.
The protest, which coincided with Long COVID Awareness Day, drew more than a dozen participants who expressed feeling neglected and marginalized as society transitions away from the pandemic while they continue to struggle with daily activities.
Dr. Susan Kuo, a family physician based in Richmond, British Columbia, highlighted the lack of resources allocated towards researching treatments and diagnostic tools for long COVID. She emphasized the urgent need for government intervention, stating, “At the current time, there are no established diagnostic tests and no established treatments for long COVID. Our resources for long COVID are very scant.”
Kuo revealed that she encounters new patients presenting with long COVID symptoms weekly, with over 200 different symptoms identified by the World Health Organization that impact daily functioning. She underscored the insufficient research efforts in Canada and highlighted potential setbacks stemming from funding cuts to long COVID research by the U.S. National Institute of Health.
Nicole Rogers, a former teacher and one of the event organizers, shared her personal experience with long COVID following a COVID-19 infection in March 2020. Despite persisting symptoms, Rogers continued working for several months before becoming primarily homebound for the past two and a half years.
Rogers expressed frustration with the limited treatment options available, noting that many long COVID clinics in Canada have closed or lack sufficient medical staff to address the needs of patients. In British Columbia, most long COVID patients are directed to a virtual recovery clinic following the closure of regional post-COVID clinics in early 2023.
The demonstrators plan to petition MPs and MLAs for increased research funding, disability support, and enhanced public awareness of long COVID. Their advocacy aims to address the urgent needs of individuals grappling with the long-term effects of COVID-19 and ensure they receive the necessary support and resources for recovery.
