Long Covid Advocacy

@longcovidadvoc.com

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A non-profit social enterprise dedicated to people with Long Covid + ME. Shifting the paradigm one step at a time... 💙📚Home to the #cripademia book club. https://www.longcovidadvoc.com/ 🛍️ https://longcovidadvoc.shop/

Screenshot of a two-page open letter from Cambridgeshire ME and Long Covid Support, co-signed by Suffolk Youth & Parent Support Group and Bury & Bolton ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia Support Group, addressed to Professor Subodh Dave and Dr Jade Smith of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, dated 12 July 2026. The letter responds to the College's reply to an earlier open letter, arguing that reliance on the biopsychosocial model does not reflect current evidence. It cites the 2021 NICE guideline (NG206), post-exertional malaise, WHO classification of ME, and the DecodeME genetic study, contending that behavioural models have harmed patients and diverted biomedical research. The authors urge the College to align its activities with current evidence and NICE guidance.
Promotional graphic with a muted gray engraving-style background showing an elderly hooded figure embracing a younger person, with a medieval city skyline behind them. In the upper right is the cover of *On Being Ill* by Virginia Woolf with the text: “feat. Ted’s essay!” An arrow points to the book with the words “Signed copy” and “with Giveaway.” The main text reads: “ARTICLE BY TED MONROE: ‘That agony returns’: What Coleridge’s ancient mariner can teach us about the Long Covid brain re-trainers.” At the bottom: “Excellent commentary reflecting on Alan Levinovitz’s WIRED piece.”
An graphic for the Cripademia Bookclub featuring a background of dimly lit bookshelves. In the center, large white text reads: "How many lives have been smothered or disappeared or haven't been allowed to flourish because of the stories we tell?" In the bottom left, a circular, gold-bordered black and white portrait shows author Amanda Leduc smiling gently. To the right of the portrait, text in gold reads: "AMANDA LEDUC" followed by "Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability & Making Space". The top features the "Cripademia Bookclub" logo with an illustration of glasses on a stack of books, and the bottom right corner shows the "Long Covid Advocacy" logo.
A formal letter from Long Covid Advocacy to Prof. Lade Smith and Prof. Subodh Dave of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, dated 1st July, 2026. Titled "Response to the Royal College of Psychiatrists," the document features a two-column layout with a purple and blue theme. The letter advocates for patients with ME and Long Covid, emphasizing that psychiatric care must begin with an accurate understanding of biological disease rather than relying on outdated psychological models. It highlights that the NICE guideline NG206 downgraded the certainty of CBT and graded exercise therapy, and mentions research like DecodeME. It expresses concern over a lack of balanced research representation at a recent Congress session, references the College's Women's Mental Health Action Plan, and calls for a collaborative meeting to ensure future educational programming aligns with current evidence. Signed by Long Covid Advocacy with website and social handles at the bottom.
An infographic titled "Cooling tips for people with chronic illness" from Long Covid Advocacy in the file 18857.png. It details advice across several sections: * Summary: Heat increases symptom burdens; accommodations are vital. * Medication: Beta blockers and antihistamines can impair sweating. * Cool on the outside: Use soaked towels, ice packs, cooling mats, mist. * Cool on the inside: Suck ice cubes, store iced water, drink electrolyte lollies. * Cool Zone: Use AC, fans with ice packs, open loft hatches, wet sheets. * Cool House: Open windows early/late, close blinds during peak heat, use reflective film. * Pacing, Sensory, Check-in, & Care: Rest more, reduce sensory load, check on vulnerable community members, and pre-prep meals/cool boxes. * Rights: Outlines UK workplace accommodations under the Equality Act 2010 (e.g., remote working, flexible hours). * Bonus tips: Includes an ORS recipe for 1L water, treat ideas, and pet care.
French translation of Long Covid Advocacy Open Letter to Royal College of Psychiatrists.
An open letter in double open letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding ME and Long Covid medical frameworks, signed by 58 supporting organizations.
An image with a yellow border at the top and bottom, featuring text under the bold heading "Is ME a mental illness?". The text reads: "One of the great strengths of genetics is that we can ask questions without bias. One of the questions we asked was whether the genetic markers for ME overlap with those for other diseases. We found one overlap – with chronic pain. But we found no overlap with diseases such as diabetes or mental health conditions such as depression or schizophrenia." "Based on the current evidence, we can say that ME appears to be a distinct disease – with its own genetic profile. We have not seen any genetic overlap with mental health conditions. That may change, but for now, there is no evidence of a genetic link with mental health conditions."
An advocacy campaign graphic from 18094.png titled "#HearOurVoices Social Media Campaign," which outlines a call to action regarding the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The top left features a photo of a person pushing a young individual in a wheelchair down a paved path. A numbered "How" section directs supporters to join community outreach on June 15th (the opening day of the congress), post their personal stories, and amplify their message using the hashtags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. A "Why?" sidebar notes that 58 organizations and 1,200 people signed an open letter expressing concern over the framing of Long Covid at the 2026 International Congress, adding that while they welcome the RCPsych response, concerns remain. The graphic includes a text template for sharing, a bright pink QR code linking to the open letter at longcovidadvoc.com, and the logo for Long Covid Advocacy.
trending in the united kingdom #RCPsychIC
An open letter in double open letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding ME and Long Covid medical frameworks, signed by 58 supporting organizations.
An open letter in double open letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding ME and Long Covid medical frameworks, signed by 58 supporting organizations.
An open letter in double open letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding ME and Long Covid medical frameworks, signed by 58 supporting organizations.
A two-page digital document titled "Open Letter to the Royal College of Psychiatrists," dated 12th May, 2026. The top right features a logo for "LONG COVID ADVOCACY" with a neon hand and brain icon. The letter is addressed to "Dear Prof. Subodh Dave, President-elect" and expresses concern over the framing of ME and Long Covid at an upcoming Congress. It objects to the inclusion of speakers Paul Garner, Alan Carson, and Trudie Chalder due to their association with psychiatric-led psychosocial frameworks. The text argues that the programming centers on behavioral models rather than biomedical evidence, contrary to NICE guideline NG206. The second page lists bulleted demands for evidence-based programming and features a two-column list of supporting organizations, such as Action for ME, Long Covid Support, and #There4ME. It concludes with a note claiming "+ 1200 individual signatures" and lists social links at the bottom.
A close-up shot of the top half of a printed flyer titled "Open Letter" held in the foreground, with a blurred outdoor walkway in the background leading toward the historic Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool under a clear blue sky. The flyer has pink and black text that includes the hashtag "#HearOurVoices" and states: "58 orgs 1200+ signed / Calling on the Royal College of Psychiatrists to align with evidence." It features two columns below titled "Why this matters" and "Our concern," mentioning Long Covid & ME, alongside a small photo of a person in a wheelchair. In the background, a brick pathway is lined with green trees and bushes. Vertical orange and purple banners hang from poles, and a large multi-story red brick building displays a sign that reads "Welcome to Albert Dock."
An exterior, low-angle shot of a modern convention center entrance featuring a grand, multi-story glass facade and an arched steel canopy roof under a clear blue sky. Large white lettering across the glass front reads "LIVERPOOL EXPERIENCE CAMPUS" next to a stylized "X" logo. The reflective glass panels mirror nearby white buildings and a bright, sunny sky. A person is visible walking through the glass sliding doors at the base of the entrance.
Based on the text displayed on the hanging banners and registration desks, this image was taken at the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RC Psych) International Congress. The glass facade in the background also features backwards text reading "LIVERPOOL EXPERIENCE CAMPUS," indicating that the event is being held at the ACC Liverpool (Arena and Convention Centre) in Liverpool, UK.
An outdoor shot featuring a stack of printed "Open Letter" flyers held up in the blurry foreground, directly in front of a digital event sign at a convention center entrance. The digital sign is framed in purple, branded with the "LIVERPOOL EXPERIENCE CAMPUS" logo at the top, and displays a colorful, interlocking bubble graphic above the text: "ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS International Congress." The flyer in front of it displays the headline "Open Letter" and subheadings "58 orgs 1200+ signed" and "Calling on the Royal College of Psychiatrists to align with evidence." In the background, the modern, multi-story glass facade of the convention center stands beneath a clear blue sky, reflecting nearby buildings. People can be seen entering the glass doors to the right of the sign.
An advocacy campaign graphic from 18094.png titled "#HearOurVoices Social Media Campaign," which outlines a call to action regarding the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The top left features a photo of a person pushing a young individual in a wheelchair down a paved path. A numbered "How" section directs supporters to join community outreach on June 15th (the opening day of the congress), post their personal stories, and amplify their message using the hashtags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. A "Why?" sidebar notes that 58 organizations and 1,200 people signed an open letter expressing concern over the framing of Long Covid at the 2026 International Congress, adding that while they welcome the RCPsych response, concerns remain. The graphic includes a text template for sharing, a bright pink QR code linking to the open letter at longcovidadvoc.com, and the logo for Long Covid Advocacy.
An image featuring a digital flyer or promotional graphic for a health campaign. The background is a slightly desaturated, darkened photograph of the Liverpool waterfront skyline, prominent with the historic Royal Liver Building and its distinct clock tower under a clear, pale sky. Overlaid on the center of the image is white serif text that reads: "Long Covid Advocacy at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Congress - Now!" Below this main headline, a subtitle reads: "#HearOurVoices Campaign: Help us ensure our community is heard". Near the bottom of the image, the source is credited in italicized white text as "Long Covid Advocacy", with the website URL "LONGCOVIDADVOCACY.SUBSTACK.COM" printed in small, clean sans-serif capital letters at the bottom left corner. In the bottom right corner, there is a small white icon depicting a stylized architectural symbol consisting of three horizontal bars under a pointed roof line.
Two-page Open Letter from Long Covid Advocacy to Prof. Subodh Dave, President-elect of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, dated 12th May, 2026. The letter expresses concern over Congress programming framing ME and Long Covid through outdated psychosocial/behavioural models rather than current biomedical evidence. It flags the inclusion of speakers Paul Garner, Alan Carson, and Trudie Chalder, arguing their frameworks risk misaligning with NICE guideline NG206. The text outlines four demands: Ensure programming reflects biomedical evidence, not psychosocial models. Review how speaker sequencing shapes evidence interpretation. Position patient expertise as independent knowledge. Align all teaching with NICE guideline NG206. The letter is signed by a two-column list of 58 supporting organizations (including Long Covid Advocacy, Action for ME, ME Association) and "+ 1200 individual signatures of patients, clinicians, researchers, carers & family members." Footer lin
Campaign infographic titled "#HearOurVoices" and "#RCPsychIC", demanding better ME and Long Covid framing from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Left side shows a woman pushing a young woman in a wheelchair on a path. Below this, a dark block titled "1 Why?" states 58 orgs and 1200 people signed an Open Letter regarding concerns over Long Covid framing at the 2026 International Congress, noting "our concerns remain." The main text outlines a "Social Media Campaign" with three steps: 1) JOIN community outreach on June 15th, 2) POST your story for congress attendees, 3) AMPLIFY using tags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. It provides a post template supporting up-to-date scientific representation and meaningful patient engagement. Bottom right includes a pink QR code, a link to "longcovidadvoc.com", and the "LONG COVID ADVOCACY" logo. A bright pink footer reads: "International response raises concern about Congress framing of Long Covid."
An advocacy campaign graphic from 18094.png titled "#HearOurVoices Social Media Campaign," which outlines a call to action regarding the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The top left features a photo of a person pushing a young individual in a wheelchair down a paved path. A numbered "How" section directs supporters to join community outreach on June 15th (the opening day of the congress), post their personal stories, and amplify their message using the hashtags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. A "Why?" sidebar notes that 58 organizations and 1,200 people signed an open letter expressing concern over the framing of Long Covid at the 2026 International Congress, adding that while they welcome the RCPsych response, concerns remain. The graphic includes a text template for sharing, a bright pink QR code linking to the open letter at longcovidadvoc.com, and the logo for Long Covid Advocacy.
Two-page Open Letter from Long Covid Advocacy to Prof. Subodh Dave, President-elect of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, dated 12th May, 2026. The letter expresses concern over Congress programming framing ME and Long Covid through outdated psychosocial/behavioural models rather than current biomedical evidence. It flags the inclusion of speakers Paul Garner, Alan Carson, and Trudie Chalder, arguing their frameworks risk misaligning with NICE guideline NG206. The text outlines four demands: Ensure programming reflects biomedical evidence, not psychosocial models. Review how speaker sequencing shapes evidence interpretation. Position patient expertise as independent knowledge. Align all teaching with NICE guideline NG206. The letter is signed by a two-column list of 58 supporting organizations (including Long Covid Advocacy, Action for ME, ME Association) and "+ 1200 individual signatures of patients, clinicians, researchers, carers & family members." Footer lin
Campaign infographic titled "#HearOurVoices" and "#RCPsychIC", demanding better ME and Long Covid framing from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Left side shows a woman pushing a young woman in a wheelchair on a path. Below this, a dark block titled "1 Why?" states 58 orgs and 1200 people signed an Open Letter regarding concerns over Long Covid framing at the 2026 International Congress, noting "our concerns remain." The main text outlines a "Social Media Campaign" with three steps: 1) JOIN community outreach on June 15th, 2) POST your story for congress attendees, 3) AMPLIFY using tags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. It provides a post template supporting up-to-date scientific representation and meaningful patient engagement. Bottom right includes a pink QR code, a link to "longcovidadvoc.com", and the "LONG COVID ADVOCACY" logo. A bright pink footer reads: "International response raises concern about Congress framing of Long Covid."
Two-page Open Letter from Long Covid Advocacy to Prof. Subodh Dave, President-elect of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, dated 12th May, 2026. The letter expresses concern over Congress programming framing ME and Long Covid through outdated psychosocial/behavioural models rather than current biomedical evidence. It flags the inclusion of speakers Paul Garner, Alan Carson, and Trudie Chalder, arguing their frameworks risk misaligning with NICE guideline NG206. The text outlines four demands: Ensure programming reflects biomedical evidence, not psychosocial models. Review how speaker sequencing shapes evidence interpretation. Position patient expertise as independent knowledge. Align all teaching with NICE guideline NG206. The letter is signed by a two-column list of 58 supporting organizations (including Long Covid Advocacy, Action for ME, ME Association) and "+ 1200 individual signatures of patients, clinicians, researchers, carers & family members." Footer links: longcovidadvoc.com, @LongCovidAdvoc.
Campaign infographic titled "#HearOurVoices" and "#RCPsychIC", demanding better ME and Long Covid framing from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Left side shows a woman pushing a young woman in a wheelchair on a path. Below this, a dark block titled "1 Why?" states 58 orgs and 1200 people signed an Open Letter regarding concerns over Long Covid framing at the 2026 International Congress, noting "our concerns remain." The main text outlines a "Social Media Campaign" with three steps: 1) JOIN community outreach on June 15th, 2) POST your story for congress attendees, 3) AMPLIFY using tags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. It provides a post template supporting up-to-date scientific representation and meaningful patient engagement. Bottom right includes a pink QR code, a link to "longcovidadvoc.com", and the "LONG COVID ADVOCACY" logo. A bright pink footer reads: "International response raises concern about Congress framing of Long Covid."
An open letter from Long Covid Advocacy addressed to Prof. Subodh Dave, President-elect of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, dated 12th May, 2026, as shown in 18080.png. The letter expresses concerns regarding the inclusion of speakers Paul Garner, Alan Carson, and Trudie Chalder in Congress programming due to their association with psychiatric-led psychosocial frameworks for ME and Long Covid. It argues that the programming positions psychosocial and behavioural frameworks as the primary lens, rather than relying on expanding biomedical evidence showing multi-system physiological dysfunction. The letter outlines four main requests to ensure programming reflects biomedical evidence, aligns with NICE guideline NG206, and values patient expertise independently. The document is co-signed by dozens of support and advocacy organizations, including Action for ME and Long Covid Support, alongside over 1200 individual signatures from patients, clinicians, researchers, carers, and families.
An advocacy campaign graphic from titled "#HearOurVoices Social Media Campaign," which outlines a call to action regarding the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The top left features a photo of a person pushing a young individual in a wheelchair down a paved path. A numbered "How" section directs supporters to join community outreach on June 15th (the opening day of the congress), post their personal stories, and amplify their message using the hashtags #RCPsychIC and #HearOurVoices. A "Why?" sidebar notes that 58 organizations and 1,200 people signed an open letter expressing concern over the framing of Long Covid at the 2026 International Congress, adding that while they welcome the RCPsych response, concerns remain. The graphic includes a text template for sharing, a bright pink QR code linking to the open letter at longcovidadvoc.com, and the logo for Long Covid Advocacy.
The concluding page of a formal letter from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, shown in 18086.png. The text states that the views and comments of all speakers, panellists, and participants are their own and do not represent the established views of the College. It notes an expectation for all event program content, as well as the behavior of speakers and delegates, to be professional, respectful, and aligned with organizational values. The letter concludes with "Yours sincerely," followed by the signature and printed name of Dr Lade Smith CBE, President. The footer contains institutional registration details and the tagline "NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH."
A formal letter from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RC Psych), dated 12 June 2026, titled "Long Covid Advocacy" and addressed to a redacted physician. The letter acknowledges concerns regarding Post-COVID Condition (PCC) and explains the selection process for the "Understanding and treating the Post-COVID Condition (PCC)" session at their International Congress. It states the session went through a rigorous independent review and scoring process. The session features a panel of three experts discussing biomedical and psycho-social evidence based on clinical practice, with an opportunity for audience questions. The text emphasizes that while PCC has biological antecedents, delegates expect to discuss its psychological impact and psychiatric treatments using a biopsychosocial model. It notes that avoiding debate on illnesses with biological causes risks stigmatizing patients, and concludes by emphasizing that patient experiences remain central. The footer includes the tagline "NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH."
A screenshot of a book deal announcement on a website. On the left, the title reads "DEMONS BY ANOTHER NAME By Alan Levinovitz," classified as "Non-fiction: Health/Medicine" and dated "September 26, 2025." The main text reads: "Author of NATURAL Alan Levinovitz's DEMONS BY ANOTHER NAME, exploring the modern face of psychogenic illness, a ubiquitous and deeply misunderstood category of human suffering, and the revolutionary healing that might come once we reckon with the beliefs, human frailties, and institutional failures keeping us sick, to Tim Duggan at Holt, at auction, by Anna Sproul-Latimer at Neon Literary (world)." Below the text, the rights contact is listed as On the far right, there are icons for "Screenshot View" and "Submit Publication Data". "Alan Levinovitz's" is highlighted in yellow.
A hand holding a brown manila envelope in front of a blue and white NHS sign. The sign at the top has the NHS logo and reads "Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust." Below that, on a blue background, it says "Radbourne Unit Reception" with a white arrow pointing to the right and then up. The envelope in the foreground features an illustration of a diverse group of six women standing together with their arms raised in celebration. Handwritten text on the envelope reads "Prof. Subodh Dave" followed by an address, and "Please do not bend" is printed in red at the bottom left.
matt bernius @mattBernius Replying to @angryhacademic Oh, totally. I was thinking someone qualified to edit science and medical reporting should have pushed back on all of this. BTW, this is apparently a section of a larger book project in motion. So that also changes the incentives for the author to take and aggressive defense... 2:17 ¡ 05 Jun 26 ¡ 12 Views
Open Letter update graphic featuring a black-and-white photograph of two hands gently clasped in support. Large white text reads: “Open Letter Update: Solidarity, Engagement, and Next Steps.” Smaller text below states: “58 orgs & 1200 individuals sign regarding the framing of Long Covid in the Royal College of Psychiatrists 2026 International Congress.” The website “LONGCOVIDADVOCACY.SUBSTACK.COM” appears at the bottom. The image conveys solidarity, collective action, patient advocacy, Long Covid awareness, disability rights, and community engagement.
The choice is not between no exercise and getting deconditioned, or exercise and preventing deconditioning; it’s about finding a balance between keeping moving as much as possible without negative consequences so as to keep as conditioned as possible – as more exertion leads to more crashes leads to MORE deconditioning. The harm of promoting exercise consists of risking the illness getting worse AND deconditioning getting worse. Pacing will help with the severity of the illness AND with remaining as conditioned as possible. If you don’t understand that, you have understood nothing about PEM.
An abstract, translucent blue and grey spherical structure resembling a complex microscopic organism or digital rendering against a grey background. White text overlaid on the image reads: "Commentary on the Long Covid article by Alan Levinovitz in WIRED magazine By Dr Elke Hausmann." The website address "LONGCOVIDADVOCACY.SUBSTACK.COM" is printed at the bottom left, with a small Substack logo in the bottom right corner.
A promotional graphic for the "Bookclub Pod: Disability & Chronic Illness Reading Collective" featuring a black-and-white portrait of author Elinor Cleghorn in the top left corner, next to large teal and pink text that reads "Elinor Cleghorn on ME." Below the portrait is an image of her book cover, *Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World*, which is decorated with vibrant orange and red flowers. The bottom half of the graphic features an open book page, showing page 389, with text describing an outbreak of a mysterious illness in Incline Village in 1984, where residents developed fevers, swollen glands, and crushing exhaustion that lasted for months, mostly affecting wealthy women in their thirties and forties.
Alt text: Promotional graphic for the “Pedantic Zebra Pod” podcast episode “05. On Medical Misogyny with Elinor Cleghorn.” The design features a dark navy and purple background with bright turquoise and pink text and accents. A tilted copy of the book Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn appears in the upper left. Large turquoise text reads “Pedantic Zebra Pod,” with smaller text underneath announcing the episode topic on medical misogyny. A black-and-white portrait of Elinor Cleghorn is framed by concentric neon-style circles in the lower left. A turquoise oval on the right reads “Thurs 28 May at 7 PM GMT.” The Long Covid Advocacy logo appears beneath “Hosted By,” and icons along the bottom indicate the event is live on X, YouTube, and Facebook.
A promotional graphic on a dark blue background advertising an upcoming event. At the top left, an orange square reads "TIME ZONE THE FUTURE DISABILITY & CHRONIC ILLNESS READING COLLECTIVE BOOK CLUB," topped with a "PEDANTIC ZEBRA BOOK CLUB" label. Below it is a black-and-white portrait of a woman. To the right, a woman holds a large cardboard sign reading "NO MORE PATRIARCHY," surrounded by labels reading "LINK IN STORY & BIO" and "WOMEN'S HEALTH." The center text in yellow reads: "On 28th May we will be livestreaming with Elinor at 7pm. Streamed across our Long Covid Advocacy channels!" The bottom features a yellow "PODCAST" microphone graphic, a label reading "RECORDING ON SPOTIFY & APPLE SEARCH PEDANTIC ZEBRA," a "LONG COVID ADVOCACY" logo, a "MEDICAL MISOGYNY" label, an orange "LIVESTREAM" graphic, and the book cover for *Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World* by Elinor Cleghorn.
Black fan with a clear bowl of ice cubes in front. Placed on a wood table on a loft style home with bare brick behind.
Open Letter to the Royal College of Psychiatrists
An infographic titled "Cooling Tips 101: How to breeze through a heat wave with ME & Long Covid." The text reads: "Heat can significantly worsen symptoms for people with ME and Long Covid, particularly for those with a strong dysautonomia (autonomic dysfunction) presentation. And preparation can make all the difference. It can very much feel as comfortable as a goth in summer - very unfun!" The background features blurry ice cubes against a light grey backdrop. The bottom of the image includes the website "LONGCOVIDADVOCACY.SUBSTACK.COM" and a small Substack logo icon in the bottom right corner.
List of first wave signatures
Possible Link to Covid-19 Dr Lindsay Edwards, an expert in immune responses at King's College London, suggested that meningitis may be becoming more common in the post-Covid era. Normally, around 25 per cent of teenagers and young adults carry meningitis B bacteria harmlessly in their noses. However, Dr Edwards explained that Covid may have made our cells more susceptible to the bacteria. 'The Covid virus gets inside cells by binding to its receptors,' she said. 'When this happens, it gives bacteria a chance to also enter the cells, which is why many Covid patients developed secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia. It is possible that many young people developing meningitis now may have previously had Covid, leaving their cells more vulnerable to infections.'
Fourth Reading meningitis case reported at Westwood Farm School - Reading Chronicle headline
2 men in a divided screen one holding a white phone. Logo of who wants to be a millionaire in bottom left corner.
Graphic for the Pedantic Zebra Bookclub, a disability and chronic illness reading collective affiliated with Long Covid Advocacy. Three tilted book covers are displayed against a dark background: Pale Rider by Laura Spinney at top left, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan at centre right, and Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space by Amanda Leduc at bottom left. White text reads: “We are voting on what to read for our Summer book club! Comment your choice”. The Pedantic Zebra Bookclub logo appears at the top in turquoise and pale pink, with the Long Covid Advocacy logo at the bottom right in purple and blue. A large purple gradient circle is partially visible along the right edge.
A screenshot of a news article or advisory stating that the UKHSA advises young people to ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, specifically the MenACWY vaccine. The text notes that the vaccine is offered in school years 9 and 10 and remains free on the NHS until age 25. It adds that the vaccine does not protect against all strains, such as MenB, and emphasizes the importance of knowing symptoms regardless of vaccination status.
There is currently a national shortage of the Meningitis B vaccine, and stock is limited. We are working with suppliers to secure more doses
A letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists and President Elect Prof Subodh Dave discusses integrating patient experience into ME care and highlights concerns about psychiatric-led approaches. #mecfs #meawareness #RCPsychIC #pwME