Toward Comprehensive Care for Long Covid

This Perspective highlights the ongoing challenges in identifying and treating long Covid, or postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It notes the lack of standardized definitions, variable symptom presentations, and limited access to coordinated care. Despite the large-scale federal investment in vaccine development and pandemic mitigation, long Covid care has lagged behind. The article discusses the RECOVER initiative by NIH as a step toward understanding the condition, collecting data, and launching clinical trials. It argues for building national centers of excellence to deliver comprehensive care, address disparities, create educational tools for clinicians and patients, and empower affected communities. Funding recommendations and training proposals are included to close existing gaps.

This Perspective highlights the ongoing challenges in identifying and treating long Covid, or postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It notes the lack of standardized definitions, variable symptom presentations, and limited access to coordinated care. Despite the large-scale federal investment in vaccine development and pandemic mitigation, long Covid care has lagged behind. The article discusses the RECOVER initiative by NIH as a step toward understanding the condition, collecting data, and launching clinical trials. It argues for building national centers of excellence to deliver comprehensive care, address disparities, create educational tools for clinicians and patients, and empower affected communities. Funding recommendations and training proposals are included to close existing gaps.