Understanding Long COVID’s Impact on the Workforce
At Moderna, we are committed to shining a light on the impact of Long COVID, as millions continue to suffer from long-term effects of COVID-19 infection.¹ That’s why we were proud to partner with Washington Post Live on an event titled, “Long Covid: Where Things Stand,” which spotlighted the causes, prevalence and long-term impacts of Long COVID on communities and the workforce four years since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 1 in 5 people who’ve had COVID have developed Long COVID.² Symptoms range from shortness of breath and chest pain to neurological symptoms and chronic fatigue.³ Long COVID has had a significant impact on people’s personal and professional lives. In fact, as many as four million Americans are out of work due to Long COVID, leading to nearly $200 billion in lost wages per year.⁴
The Washington Post Live event brought together top researchers, government leaders, advocates, and patients to discuss the latest research on Long COVID, its prevalence, and its wide-ranging impact on businesses, the economy, and the lives of millions of Americans.
Learn more here:
Last month, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 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. Its report found that the health effects of Long COVID can impair an individual’s ability to work or attend school for six months to two years or more after COVID-19 infection and called for employers across the country to adapt the consensus definition.⁵
Employers can support employees with Long COVID by providing flexible work hours and other accommodations. They also play a key role in raising awareness and promoting wellness education about Long COVID, including supporting public health priorities such as prevention programs. Offering vaccination programs, including on-site COVID vaccination clinics, is one step businesses can take this fall to help protect employees.
To learn more, check out the full Washington Post Live event sponsored by Moderna.
¹https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm
²https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220622.htm
³https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/long-covid-signs-symptoms.html ⁴https://www.brookings.edu/articles/new-data-shows-long-covid-is-keeping-as-many-as-4-million-people-out-of-work/
⁵https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2024/06/new-report-reviews-evidence-on-long-covid-diagnosis-risk-symptoms-and-functional-impact-for-patients#:~:text=The%20new%20report%20says%20that,or%20more%20after%20COVID%2D19