long-covid

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The LONG HAUL What is Long COVID? 'Long COVID'/ 'Post-COVID' / 'Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19/ 'Long-Haul COVID' Coronavirus disease with symptoms at least 4 weeks after the initial infection has persistence. Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID. People call post-COVID conditions by many names, including: long COVID, long-haul COVID, post-acute COVID-19, post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC), long-term effects of COVID, and chronic COVID. There is no test to diagnose post-COVID conditions, and people may have a wide variety of symptoms that could come from other health problems. Your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of post-COVID conditions based on your health history, including if you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 either by a positive test or by symptoms or exposure, as well as doing a health examination.

NEED TO KNOW ... A wide range of ongoing health problems; these conditions can last weeks, months, or years. Post-COVID conditions are found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience post-COVID conditions, even people who had mild illness or no symptoms from COVID-19. People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and become infected may also be at higher risk of developing post-COVID conditions compared to people who were vaccinated and had breakthrough infections. There is no single test for post-COVID conditions. While most people with post-COVID conditions have evidence of infection or COVID-19 illness, in some cases, a person with post-COVID conditions may not have tested positive for the virus or known they were infected. CDC and partners are working to understand more about who experiences post-COVID conditions and why, including whether groups disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 are at higher risk.

SYMPTOMS People who experience post-COVID conditions most commonly report: General symptoms Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post- exertional malaise”) Fever Respiratory and heart symptoms Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Cough Chest pain Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations) Neurological symptoms Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”) Headache Sleep problems Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness) Pins-and-needles feelings Change in smell or taste Depression or anxiety Digestive symptoms Diarrhea Stomach pain Other symptoms Joint or muscle pain Rash Changes in menstrual cycles

ONE WAY TO MAKE CHANGE It's still possible for fully vaccinated individuals to develop long COVID, though the risk is notably reduced. The vaccine may not protect everyone! The best way to prevent post-COVID conditions is to protect yourself and others from becoming infected. For people who are eligible, getting vaccinated and staying up to date with vaccines against COVID-19 can help prevent COVID-19 infection and protect against severe illness. Research suggests that people who are vaccinated but experience a breakthrough infection are less likely to report post-COVID conditions, compared to people who are unvaccinated.

MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE Moderna COVID‑19 Vaccine is authorized to provide: a two-dose primary series to individuals 18 years of age and older; a third primary series dose to individuals 18 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise; a first booster dose to individuals 18 years of age and older who have completed a primary series with Moderna COVID‑19 Vaccine or SPIKEVAX (COVID‑19 Vaccine, mRNA); a first booster dose to individuals 18 years of age and older who have completed primary vaccination with another authorized or approved COVID‑19 vaccine. The booster schedule is based on the labeling information of the vaccine used for the primary series; a second booster dose to individuals 50 years of age and older who have received a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID‑19 vaccine; and a second booster dose to individuals 18 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise and who have received a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID‑19 vaccine. FDA has approved SPIKEVAX (COVID‑19 Vaccine, mRNA) as a two-dose primary series one month apart for prevention of COVID‑19 in individuals ages 18 years of age and older.

PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE Pfizer, Inc., and BioNTech 2-dose primary series to individuals 12 through 15 years of age; a third primary series dose to individuals 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise; a first booster dose to individuals 12 years of age and older who have completed a primary series with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or COMIRNATY (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA); first booster dose to individuals 18 years of age and older who have completed primary vaccination with another authorized or approved The FDA has authorized a single booster dose of the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age. A single booster dose is Authorized for Emergency Use in individuals 5 through 11 years of age who have completed a primary series with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. A single booster dose may be given at least 5 months following completion of the primary series.

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RESOURCES: American Thoracic Society www.thoracic.org/patients – COVID 19 – COVID 19 vaccines – Post-ICU Syndrome (PICS) – Pulmonary rehabilitation Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information https://www.hrsa.gov/coronavirus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention f https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-termeffects.html American Lung Association (ALA) f https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lungdisease-lookup/covid-19 World Health Organization f https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/ risk-comms-updates/update54_clinical_long_term_ effects.pdf?sfvrsn=3e63eee5_8 WHO–Support for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19 Related Illness f https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/ handle/10665/333287/WHO-EURO-2020-855-40590- 54571-eng.pdf Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions | CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html ShowLabeling.aspx (pfizer.com) Comirnaty® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) | Official Site Our Mission & Values - Moderna (modernatx.com)