Study: Vaccines don’t prevent “long COVID”

At least two dozen symptoms represent post-COVID-19 illness, more commonly known as “long COVID.” Recent studies indicate vaccinated patients with breakthrough infections can still suffer long-term effects. A study of veterans found nearly equal rates of vaccinated and unvaccinated veterans reporting long COVID symptoms six months after infection. A separate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Wednesday found up to 1 in 5 adults had at least one long COVID symptom a year later.

Is there a treatment? The CDC, which did not group its data into vaccinated or unvaccinated groups, laid out 26 symptoms that could be connected to COVID-19. It did not offer treatment recommendations. The study analyzed 2 million U.S. adults’ medical records from March 2020 to November 2021. The 353,000 who had been infected with COVID-19 were more likely to develop one or more symptoms connected with the disease. The most common complaints were breathing problems and muscle aches, but some also suffered neurological problems called “brain fog.” Other symptoms included fatigue and blood clots.

Dig deeper: Read Ashley Vaughan’s report in Beginnings about boosters and public trust in the healthcare system.