Episode 9: Long Covid & Kids

Despite all the messaging that children are relatively safe from Covid and its ill effects, more and more families are coming forward with children who are also suffering with long lasting Covid symptoms. Data released by the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) in February and updated in April also sparked concern. They showed that 9.8% of children aged 2–11 years and 13% aged 12–16 years reported at least one lingering symptom five weeks after a positive diagnosis. The numbers reported aren’t as high as they are for adults - the ONS data, for instance, shows that about 25% of 35–69-year olds had symptoms at 5 weeks - but its enough to ring alarm bells.

A group that has been ringing those bells the loudest and the longest is https://www.longcovidkids.org . We spoke to Frances Simpson, one of the founding members of the group, about her dedication to finding help for her own two children and all the other children that are all suffering from Long Covid, while she herself is suffering from this post-viral syndrome. At the end of this episode we also talk to two young friends - Kitty Mcfarland, 15 years old and Liliana Jackson, 16 years old - about what it’s like to live with Long Covid and the struggle to find help.