Kate Murray

You know, we've got, we see this in a lot of overachievers, frankly. They try to push through it and then they end up getting worse and worse. So definitely just pay attention and take it seriously. Stay up to date on your vaccinations and then seek that care and support if you need it.

You know, we've got, we see this in a lot of overachievers, frankly. They try to push through it and then they end up getting worse and worse. So definitely just pay attention and take it seriously. Stay up to date on your vaccinations and then seek that care and support if you need it.

Well, I did want to follow up a little bit on Clarence's question, if I may. Sure. And just acknowledge that, you know, we know the pandemic had a disproportionate impact across communities for certain types of long COVID cases. People who have underlying conditions may be more susceptible to long-term complications.

Well, I did want to follow up a little bit on Clarence's question, if I may. Sure. And just acknowledge that, you know, we know the pandemic had a disproportionate impact across communities for certain types of long COVID cases. People who have underlying conditions may be more susceptible to long-term complications.

So there is a big equity piece that we think this is really kind of at the intersection of. It's interesting, we've heard anecdotally from a lot of our providers who work at the long COVID specialty centers that they are serving a very homogenous group of patients by and large. It's sort of the better educated, wealthy kind of suburban white folks who probably have more access to those resources.

So there is a big equity piece that we think this is really kind of at the intersection of. It's interesting, we've heard anecdotally from a lot of our providers who work at the long COVID specialty centers that they are serving a very homogenous group of patients by and large. It's sort of the better educated, wealthy kind of suburban white folks who probably have more access to those resources.

We do not think it's because they are being uniquely impacted by long COVID. We just know we are missing a lot of the folks who are being impacted by this.

We do not think it's because they are being uniquely impacted by long COVID. We just know we are missing a lot of the folks who are being impacted by this.

So that is part of why awareness is just a big priority for us because we know this is happening across communities, but because it's unfamiliar because of various stigmas around disability and how it's hard to talk about, maybe if your abilities have shifted, we're probably missing a lot of people.

So that is part of why awareness is just a big priority for us because we know this is happening across communities, but because it's unfamiliar because of various stigmas around disability and how it's hard to talk about, maybe if your abilities have shifted, we're probably missing a lot of people.

But we're certainly interested in understanding better how long COVID is impacting different communities across our state.

But we're certainly interested in understanding better how long COVID is impacting different communities across our state.

Absolutely. We are learning a lot every week. Even there's more research coming out. There's still a lot that we don't know and definitely want to be real about that so that we aren't saying, oh, we're sure that this is the cause or this is the trajectory. And then we have to change that.

Absolutely. We are learning a lot every week. Even there's more research coming out. There's still a lot that we don't know and definitely want to be real about that so that we aren't saying, oh, we're sure that this is the cause or this is the trajectory. And then we have to change that.

Certainly the prevention piece is, of course, for public health. So that is top of mind. Evidence continues to emerge indicating that vaccination is protective against long COVID. It's not a magic bullet. It is not 100%. If you're up to date on your boosters, you're definitely not going to have long COVID, but it does show to have some protective factors.

Certainly the prevention piece is, of course, for public health. So that is top of mind. Evidence continues to emerge indicating that vaccination is protective against long COVID. It's not a magic bullet. It is not 100%. If you're up to date on your boosters, you're definitely not going to have long COVID, but it does show to have some protective factors.

And the biggest waves of long COVID that we see are from the time before there were vaccines available. So several studies have come out even in the last few months showing that having those boosters is important as well. And it's really unvaccinated folks and folks who maybe only had one or two vaccines are having more long-term complications.

And the biggest waves of long COVID that we see are from the time before there were vaccines available. So several studies have come out even in the last few months showing that having those boosters is important as well. And it's really unvaccinated folks and folks who maybe only had one or two vaccines are having more long-term complications.

So that is definitely one of the best tools in our toolbox to prevent long COVID is to continue staying up to date on vaccinations.

So that is definitely one of the best tools in our toolbox to prevent long COVID is to continue staying up to date on vaccinations.