Long COVID has affected perhaps millions of Californians. Health experts fear that the toll will be especially harsh for Latinos, African Americans and low-income residents, who already face a disproportionate impact from COVID-19.
By Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters
It’s been two years since Angela Meriquez Vazquez was infected with Covid-19, but some of her most debilitating symptoms remain. Migraines, fatigue, brain fog, heart palpitations, insomnia and sometimes even a fever are among the symptoms that disrupt her day-to-day life
Latino, Black and low-income people with inadequate health care could suffer the most. California doesn’t have many long COVID specialists, and disadvantaged communities are underserved.
Long COVID has affected perhaps millions of Californians. Health experts fear that the toll will be especially harsh for Latinos, African Americans and low-income residents, who already face a disproportionate impact from COVID-19.
At least 20 specialized, post-COVID programs have been set up at medical centers in California to help treat these long-haul patients. But they already are overburdened, and experts fear that long COVID could go largely unaddressed or misdiagnosed in people who have few resources.