IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL: THE JOURNAL OF THE HEALTH VISITORS' ASSOCIATION

ABSTRACT

It is three years since a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause was reported in Wuhan in China. Little did many know how soon lives around the world would be upended. Many people now feel that the pandemic is behind them, and very few are still testing regularly, but in reality, Covid is still with them. In fact, a spike with new variants is predicted with some unease by researchers in the field for this winter quite possibly combined with influenza, to constitute a 'twindemic'. Alongside this, there is an increasing awareness that 'long Covid' can keep people ill or disabled for a considerable length of time. So for any clients sinking into Covid vaccination apathy, it's worth reminding them of the realities, and that studies have suggested vaccination can reduce the risk of long Covid. Research into the immunity required to protect against long Covid, as well as the role of new variants, continues.