The number of Bristolians thought to have long covid is “frightening”, say health bosses. An estimated 12,580 city residents have the condition, recently described by a support group founder as the “biggest mass disabling event in history”.
It has about 200 different symptoms and affects a disproportionately high number of people who are white, female or of working age, a meeting of Bristol health & wellbeing board was told. Members heard a wide range of services had been developed for sufferers in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) CCG area and hundreds were on the waiting list, while vaccinated residents were “far less likely” to develop symptoms.
Bristol City Council consultant in public health Sally Hogg said: “Vaccination is, without doubt, the key. If we can get those vaccination rates up, we will be in a better place to deal with long covid.” She said the Office for National Statistics estimated that 1.7million people in the UK had the condition – about 2.7 per cent of the population – which would equate to 12,580 people in Bristol.
