LCK In The News

As part of the coverage of Boris Johnston's appearance at Module 8 of the UK Covid Inquiry, Nabiha Ahmed reporting for the BBC shared the above photograph.

She reports that campaigners from various groups formed a huddle outside the inquiry building, after Johnson finished answering questions. These include those from our charity, Long Covid Kids and alos those representing Clinically Vulnerable Families - which supports vulnerable and immunocompromised people, and those living in their households.

We are very grateful to LCK volunteer Jana, and member Harbinder who spoke to the Mirror about the experiences of their children, who are living with the debilitating symptoms of Long Covid.

The article states that "Thousands of children have been left seriously disabled and often bedbound due to the post-viral syndrome which their parents say much of the NHS still refuses to recognise" and it goes on to recognise that "Desperate families say there is a lack of acknowledgement from the NHS, schools and social services that Long Covid is even an issue for children". As Jana quotes “They are invisible children and there are thousands of them. We really need help to make them visible and not forgotten.”

The article includes parts of LCK CEO and founder, Sammie McFarland's, witness statement to Module 8 of the Covid Inquiry “My daughter’s story is just one of thousands. Her experience reflects the failure to protect children from infection, the lack of early recognition of Long Covid, and the ongoing challenges young people face in accessing care, support and understanding.”

Sammie McFarland, founder of the Dorset-based international charity Long Covid Kids (LCK), was invited to the Women of the Year Lunch. The lunch and awards celebrate and advance the achievements of women across the UK and globally. The invite was in recognition of her work with LCK and raising awareness about the debilitating condition.

She said: “I’m so honoured to have been recognised alongside such incredible women, true trailblazers and changemakers whose impact is inspiring.

"While I wasn’t able to attend in person, my own experience mirrors that of many children with Long Covid who miss school and special moments through no choice of their own.

"As the Covid Inquiry examines decisions that shaped children’s health and education, it’s vital we ensure they’re supported, not penalised. Recognition like this helps shine a light on that need and brings us closer to the understanding and compassion all children deserve.”

The BBC reports on the experiences of children and young people that are due to be highlighted, as the Covid-19 public inquiry prepares to look at the pandemic's impact on children and young people.

They interview Avalyn now 16, who became ill with a Covid infection in October 2021. While schools were beginning to return to normal, Avalyn was struggling with a deep and debilitating fatigue, and eventually left school for home education. It took a year to get a formal diagnosis of long Covid and specialist advice.

"I enjoyed being in school, I enjoyed being social and seeing people, and then suddenly that was taken away from me very quickly," Avalyn says.

The inquiry plans to hear evidence on the impact of children and young people across four weeks from 29 September to 23 October.

A WEYMOUTH campaigner is calling on the government to apologise to children over its handling of Long Covid.
Sammie McFarland of Weymouth, who set up Long Covid Kids to support children and families, has called on the government to take responsibility for its 'inaction' over recognising the condition sooner.
Long Covid is a disabling, multi-organ condition that emerged in 2020 and continues to affect thousands. The World Health Organisation describes its impact as “changes in eating habits, physical activity, behaviour, academic performance, social functions and developmental milestones.”