A new report has found that over 100,000 people in Dublin are thought to be suffering with Long Covid since the pandemic began, with concerns that hospitals could be overwhelmed.
The estimate, by Independent TD Denis Naughten, is based on new data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) showing that 69% of the Irish population have had Covid and a large-scale Dutch study, published in The Lancet, which found one in eight Covid infections lead to long Covid. It is estimated that the number of long Covid patients in Ireland could be as high as 336,451 adults.
Mr Naughton described the numbers as "staggering." He said: "Dublin has the highest number of patients suffering the long-term effects of Covid-19 with 100,650, with Co Leitrim at the other end of the scale with 2,075 patients."
Read more: Second Covid-19 booster jab rolled out for pregnant women and over 60s
Speaking to Newstalk on Monday, Deputy Naughten said that Ireland is not prepared for the thousands of people who are suffering symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog after Covid-19. He said: "We have a very significant and growing problem with Long Covid at the moment.
“We’re looking at 336,000 people who are likely to have Long Covid and present to our health services. These are people that are presenting with cardiac issues, breathing and lung issues but also have more longer-term issues in relation to fatigue and brain fog."
Deputy Naughten said that Long Covid is having a "huge impact" in terms of pressure being put on GPs as well as employers, with some workers being unable to return to a full-time job. He added: "This has huge implications, not just for our health service but right across the economy.”
Deputy Naughten said long Covid patients have “very complex needs” and GPs are currently adding to HSE waiting lists. He said that this is happening as the HSE is struggling to respond to the backlog in appointments left by lockdown and prepares for a winter surge in the virus.
Deputy Naughten said: “All of that combined is going to leave our health service on its knees unless we have a clear strategy from Government. Government has promised for the last 12 months that they would put specific Long Covid clinics in place. They have not been delivered as yet."
Meanwhile, health care experts have recently discovered up to 200 symptoms linked to Long Covid. While Covid cases are dropping in Ireland, medical experts have predicted further infections in the autumn. On Monday, there were 361 Covid patients in hospital, including 18 needing intensive care.
The Covid-19 booster vaccine campaign has this week been rolled out to vaccine pregnant women and the over 60s, and in the coming weeks the vaccine will also be offered to the over 55s from August 22. Meanwhile, people aged 12 and over who have underlying medical conditions or are residents of long-term care facilities will be able to book an appointment for 1 September, with people aged 65 and over and healthcare workers able to receive their next dose in October alongside the flu vaccine.
According to the HSE, it is recommended that you get your second booster at least four months after your first. For more information and advice visit www.hse.ie
Read Next:
- Covid vaccine booster to be made available to more people in coming weeks
- Almost 100 cases of monkeypox cases confirmed in Ireland with 10 people hospitalised
HSE urging people to get booster vaccines at walk-in clinics
Number one symptom of Covid-19 revealed - see full list of top 20
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
