Entertainment
‘Coronavirus vaccine could stop some people catching long Covid,’ claims doctor
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Dr Alexander van Tulleken has claimed that the coronavirus vaccine could stop some people from catching long Covid.
Appearing on Wednesday’s instalment of BBC Morning Live, the GP – who goes by the name Dr Xand – spoke to hosts Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh about the vaccine.
He went on to emphasise that the vaccine could only stop someone catching long Covid if they have not already had the virus.
‘If you haven’t had Covid, so you haven’t been at risk of long Covid and you have the vaccine,’ the GP began.
‘It does seem that not only does the vaccine stop you getting severely ill or stop you transmitting it, it does seem to stop you getting properly infected.
‘Although we don’t have that much data about this, it would be my guess that it would protect you against long Covid which is very very important for a huge number of people.’
‘Which is why we have to do the whole adult population,’ he added.
According to the NHS website, people who have long Covid or post-Covid-19 syndrome as it’s otherwise known can have symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone.
Many people feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for some people, symptoms can last longer.
The chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get coronavirus.
People who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems.
There are many symptoms that you can have even after the coronavirus infection is gone including the likes of extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pains and nausea.
Morning Live airs weekdays at 9.15am on BBC One.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
