Research continues to be carried out on long Covid, which occurs when the symptoms of Covid last longer than 12 weeks, and can be particularly debilitating and unpleasant
Doctors have reminded Brits of the main symptoms of long Covid as cases continue to rise.
More than two million people in the UK are living with long Covid, which expert have described as “the forgotten epidemic”. It occurs when the symptoms of coronavirus last longer than 12 weeks.
And numbers continue to swell as the Covid virus continues to circulate globally. With this in mind, health authorities have made a Covid booster vaccination available this spring for three groups of people, including residents in care homes for older adults and adults aged 75 years and older by June 30, 2026.
But they have also warned Brits of the symptoms of long Covid, in order for everyone to spot these early on. Mark Faghy, a professor of clinical exercise physiology at Loughborough University, said signs include brain fog, breathlessness, joint and muscle pain.
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Post-exertion malaise is another sign and this, according to Prof Fagby, is “a flare-up of symptoms following minimal physical, mental or emotional activity”. The academic added: “For some, walking upstairs, having a shower or even the psychological drain of a conversation can trigger a relapse and the after-effects can last weeks.”
The Daily Mail reports the syndrome “hasn’t gone away”. Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London, told the publication: “Long Covid is not a problem that has gone away, as some people like to think.”
When mum-of-two Stephanie deGiorgio’s coronavirus developed into long Covid, she spent weeks in bed at her home in Dover, Kent. Six years later, she still feels dizzy at times and even mild exertion can cause a bone-deep fatigue that leaves her “feeling like I have no power in my body or mind”. Her daughter also caught long Covid from her during the plight too.
Certain people are encouraged to take up the free NHS spring booster. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had this month warned that protection from any earlier COVID-19 vaccinations will be “starting to wane”.
But who qualifies for the COVID-19 vaccination this spring? The eligibility criteria are the same as for spring 2025. It includes:
- Adults aged 75 years and over (by 30 June 2026)
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- People aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system
The eligibility is the same across the four nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Those who are aged 75 and over can come forward to top up their protection this spring. If you are 74 but turn 75 years old by 30 June 2026, you don’t have to wait for your birthday to come forward.
