Sarah McCammon

Well, the agency agrees that there is a real urgency to find treatments, but they told me that scientists need a solid understanding of the underlying biology of long COVID, which is a complicated disease that can damage nearly every organ system. And researchers have learned a lot. For example, one NIH-funded study found that people are less likely to get long COVID if they've been vaccinated.

Well, the agency agrees that there is a real urgency to find treatments, but they told me that scientists need a solid understanding of the underlying biology of long COVID, which is a complicated disease that can damage nearly every organ system. And researchers have learned a lot. For example, one NIH-funded study found that people are less likely to get long COVID if they've been vaccinated.

Well, the agency agrees that there is a real urgency to find treatments, but they told me that scientists need a solid understanding of the underlying biology of long COVID, which is a complicated disease that can damage nearly every organ system. And researchers have learned a lot. For example, one NIH-funded study found that people are less likely to get long COVID if they've been vaccinated.

And I talked to one NIH-funded researcher, Dr. Leora Horowitz. She's at NYU. And she told me that, you know, you have to remember we're only five years into this pandemic. And there is real concern that jumping into clinical trials too soon might not be safe. It could waste money. It could waste time.

And I talked to one NIH-funded researcher, Dr. Leora Horowitz. She's at NYU. And she told me that, you know, you have to remember we're only five years into this pandemic. And there is real concern that jumping into clinical trials too soon might not be safe. It could waste money. It could waste time.

And I talked to one NIH-funded researcher, Dr. Leora Horowitz. She's at NYU. And she told me that, you know, you have to remember we're only five years into this pandemic. And there is real concern that jumping into clinical trials too soon might not be safe. It could waste money. It could waste time.

But it is also true that so far, we still don't have any FDA-approved drugs or devices or any therapies specifically for long COVID.

But it is also true that so far, we still don't have any FDA-approved drugs or devices or any therapies specifically for long COVID.

But it is also true that so far, we still don't have any FDA-approved drugs or devices or any therapies specifically for long COVID.

Well, for a lot of people, their only option is to go on long-term disability while they keep trying different drugs and therapies to manage their symptoms. And patients tell me they're exhausted, they're frustrated, and doctors feel this way too. For example, Dr. Michael Broad at UT Health Austin, he says there's a lot of guesswork in treating long COVID because there's just not enough research.

Well, for a lot of people, their only option is to go on long-term disability while they keep trying different drugs and therapies to manage their symptoms. And patients tell me they're exhausted, they're frustrated, and doctors feel this way too. For example, Dr. Michael Broad at UT Health Austin, he says there's a lot of guesswork in treating long COVID because there's just not enough research.

Well, for a lot of people, their only option is to go on long-term disability while they keep trying different drugs and therapies to manage their symptoms. And patients tell me they're exhausted, they're frustrated, and doctors feel this way too. For example, Dr. Michael Broad at UT Health Austin, he says there's a lot of guesswork in treating long COVID because there's just not enough research.

Broad also told me he prescribes medications that are not approved by the FDA for long COVID, but they are approved for other illnesses. This is called off-label prescribing. And often insurance companies don't cover these prescriptions, and that leaves very sick people having to decide whether to pay out-of-pocket for treatment. Thanks so much, Sarah, for your reporting.

Broad also told me he prescribes medications that are not approved by the FDA for long COVID, but they are approved for other illnesses. This is called off-label prescribing. And often insurance companies don't cover these prescriptions, and that leaves very sick people having to decide whether to pay out-of-pocket for treatment. Thanks so much, Sarah, for your reporting.

Broad also told me he prescribes medications that are not approved by the FDA for long COVID, but they are approved for other illnesses. This is called off-label prescribing. And often insurance companies don't cover these prescriptions, and that leaves very sick people having to decide whether to pay out-of-pocket for treatment. Thanks so much, Sarah, for your reporting.

Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.