Long COVID can impact anyone¹
An estimated 17 million adults currently have Long COVID.²*
What to know about Long COVID
Many people who get COVID go on to develop Long COVID, and the risk of developing the condition goes up with each COVID reinfection.
More than 40% of adults in the US reported having Long COVID at some point.³ In a Canadian study, adults who had more COVID infections were more likely to develop symptoms consistent with Long COVID.⁴
Long COVID diagnosis and management can be challenging.
Long COVID can impact many different parts of the body - with over 200 symptoms, it can be difficult to manage.⁵
Vaccination may reduce the risk of developing Long COVID.
A 2024 multinational study of over 20 million people showed that vaccination reduced the risk of developing Long COVID in study participants between 29% to 52%.⁶
Symptoms of Long COVID†
Researchers have identified over 200 symptoms of Long COVID.⁵
Individuals with Long COVID may experience a broad spectrum of symptoms-ranging from mild to severe-some of which can resemble those of other illnesses.⁵
These symptoms can persist for weeks, months, or even years after the COVID-19 infection, and they may appear, persist, disappear, and reappear over varying periods.⁵
Long COVID affects people differently, with some individuals facing health challenges that may be difficult to identify or diagnose, require extensive medical care, and/or lead to disability.⁵
There is no laboratory test that can determine if symptoms are due to Long COVID.⁵
Constant tiredness
Cognitive issues (brain fog)
Breathing difficulties
Heart issues
Joint and muscle pain
Mental health problems
Change/Loss of taste and smell
Sleep problems
Icons represent a selection of primary Long COVID-19 complications.
The risk of developing Long COVID goes up with each infection4‡
Percentage of adults
2024 NASEM Long COVID definition
What is Long COVID?
In June 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) committee issued its consensus definition for Long COVID in an effort to promote consistency in diagnosis, aid awareness efforts, help patients access appropriate care, and harmonize research.⁷
Vaccination may help reduce the risk of developing Long COVID
- A 2024 multinational study of over 20 million people showed that vaccination reduced the risk of developing Long COVID in study participants by between 29% to 52%.⁶
- A July 17, 2024 study of records from the US Department of Veterans Affairs showed that (while changes in the evolution of the SARS-COV-2 virus may also be involved) vaccinated individuals have had reduced incidences of Long COVID during the pre-delta, delta, and omicron phases of the disease.⁸
Patients are 4-5x more likely to get vaccinated after a strong recommendation from their healthcare provider.⁹
Your recommendation can motivate adults to get a COVID-19 vaccination.⁹Learn more about how COVID-19 can impact your patients
Footnotes
References
- Centers for Disease Control, ”Long COVID Basics.” Updated July 11, 2024. Accessed August 7, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/index.html
- KFF, ”As Recommendations for Isolation End, How Common is Long COVID?” Updated April 9, 2024. Accessed August 7, 2024. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/as-recommendations-for-isolation-end-how-common-is-long-covid/
- National Center for Health Statistics, “Nearly One in Five American Adults Who Have Had COVID-19 Still Have 'Long COVID.'” Updated June 22, 2022. Accessed July 31, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm
- Statistics Canada, “Experiences of Canadians with long-term symptoms following COVID-19.” Updated December 8, 2023. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00015-eng.htm
- Centers for Disease Control, “Signs and Symptoms of Long COVID.” Updated July 11, 2024. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/long-covid-signs-symptoms.html
- Català, M. “The Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines to Prevent Long COVID Symptoms: Staggered Cohort Study of Data from the UK, Spain, and Estonia,” The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(23)00414-9/fulltext
- NASEM, ”Examining the Working Definition for Long COVID.“ Accessed August 7, 2024. https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/examining-the-working-definition-for-long-covid
- Xie, Y. et al., “Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron Eras,” New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 391(6), 2024.https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2403211
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Chapter 6: Vaccine Administration.” Updated April 8, 2024. Accessed July 31, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-6-vaccine-administration.html
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