New HSE study finds 16% of people in Ireland have experienced Long COVID
December 2024 Long Covid Advocacy Ireland (LCAI), an advocacy group for Long Covid patients in Ireland, welcomes the publication of the Follow-up After Disease Acquisition (FADA) study conducted by the HSE.
Prevalence of Long COVID in the Irish population
The HSE’s landmark FADA study, due to be published on the 12th December, has found that 16% of the Irish population has experienced Long COVID symptoms. The study surveyed adults who had tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR test to assess their health following their infection.
The report acknowledges challenges Long COVID patients face accessing healthcare support and the resulting isolation patients experience due to a lack of understanding from healthcare professionals and the general public.
Recommendation to take steps to control SARS-CoV-2 transmission
LCAI also welcomes the report’s recommendation to control COVID transmission through both individual and Government actions, including clean indoor air in public spaces, masking, and testing, in addition to more accessible vaccination programmes.
The results of the FADA study show that repeat infections increase the risk of developing Long COVID. It is essential for the HSE to begin a wide-reaching, public health messaging campaign to educate the public on the continued risk of Long COVID and how to reduce risk by reducing COVID transmission.
“We cannot talk about COVID in the past tense. It’s still with us, it still causes acute disease and Long COVID, and it still kills… The world might want to forget about COVID-19, but we cannot afford to.” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General (10 December 2024)
“A number of viruses, including COVID, RSV, and Influenza are airborne and spread via aerosols, floating in the air like invisible smoke. Simple solutions such as clean indoor air have potential to seriously improve population health and reduce the strain on our health system.” Sinead O’Brien, Clean Air Advocacy Ireland
Call for a review of the HSE interim model of care for Long Covid
LCAI welcomes the study’s recommendation for a comprehensive review of the 2021 Interim Model of Care for Long COVID – one that incorporates the views, experience, and expertise of Long COVID patients. A wealth of research on Long Covid has been published globally since
2021, and this updated knowledge must be reflected in the Model of Care. The 2021 Model of Care has yet to be reviewed, despite frequent calls from patient groups to do so and a recommendation by HIQA.
At the Oireachtas Health Committee on Long COVID in April 2024, the HSE advised that they were awaiting publication of the FADA study results before reviewing the Interim Model of Care. With the release of the study, LCAI expects that the HSE will proceed with the review without further delay and with the utmost urgency.
The current Model of Care is inadequate. With only six public clinics across the country, three of which are located in Dublin, access is a postcode lottery. The current Model of Care does not currently accept patients under 16. Many patients have also reported negative experiences while accessing the clinics and there are significant inconsistencies in services across the clinics.
“Long COVID is a public health crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland have been disabled by this virus, impacting their ability to work, study, socialise, and care for themselves or their families. The lack of an up-to-date Model of Care for Long COVID has caused further distress to patients. This virus continues to cause significant, unnecessary pressure on our already troubled healthcare system, and the time for action is now.” Julia Corey, Long COVID Advocacy Ireland
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The full HSE FADA study research report can be found here:
Long Covid Advocacy Ireland 