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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 19h

The Expert Paediatric Long Covid Report requested by the UK COVID Inquiry is now available on our website.

Submitted by Dr Terry Segal and Professor Elizabeth Whittaker

www.longcovidkids.org/uk-covid-inq...

#PaediatricLongCovid #LongCovidKids #LongCovid #ExpertReport #COVIDInquiry

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 1d

Please help us raise awareness by sharing our film, in collaboration with Combination Dance Company, launched on the first day of the inquiry.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNV_...

#COVIDInquiry #Children #Health #Education
#Inclusion #SEND

Lives Interrupted: The Voices of Young People with Long Covid | UK COVID Inquiry | Combination Dance

YouTube video by Long Covid Kids

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

UK Health Security Agency @ukhsa.bsky.social · 1d

#UKHSAVirusWatch is back, a summary of our weekly winter surveillance report .🦠🧵
This week's data shows an increase in COVID-19 activity, which is circulating at medium levels. Flu activity has also increased, particularly in those aged 15 to 24, but remains at baseline levels.

Graph showing COVID-19 positive tests rising steadily from spring 2025 after a low in early 2025. Data from October 2024 to October 2025, England only.

Graph showing flu-positive tests peaking sharply in winter 2024–25 before declining and then beginning to rise again in autumn 2025. Data from October 2024 to October 2025, England only.

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Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 1d

My main aim with this piece it to highlight the difficulties I face with this illness and how I will never allow it to defeat me. Always keeping positive.’

Learn more about the project in Katie’s #blog:

www.longcovidkids.org/post/self-ex...

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 1d

🧵Understanding How the UK COVID Inquiry
Handles Questions

We know that many of you are feeling frustrated that some of the key questions we hoped would be asked in the Covid Inquiry haven’t yet been put to witnesses. We completely understand and we share that frustration.
We

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Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting study not specific to 🦠 but thought provoking:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC57…

Scans show immune activation in the brain circuits driving OCD
Medical not behavioural
Inflammation not attitude
Further research needed in CYP w LC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5710556/

Inflammation in the Neurocircuitry of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Is translocator protein distribution volume, a marker of the microglial component of neuroinflammation, elevated in the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit of obsessive-compulsive disorder...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 1d

Heartbreaking 💔
This is the case for some children - if we had #CleanAir in schools risks would be reduced, children would feel safer.
Note: important to rule out other causes and differentiate between school avoidance and long term medical conditions.
(Ms Hammond Kent CC 🗣️ COVID inquiry)

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Action for ME @actionforme.bsky.social · 1d

Our first Big Survey in over 5 years launches next week! You can sign up in advance to receive the survey once it's live, head to our web page to find out more: www.actionforme.org.uk/research-cam...

📅Opens 10am, Monday 13th October - 27th January 2026

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Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Kevin Courtney TUC
Concerns about Long Covid reported by members - concentration levels and fatigue (staff and students)

LCK recommend schools receive guidance to aid identification, referral and support.

#COVIDInquiry #LongCovid

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Kevin Courtney TUC

“ Having ventilation, filtration, in place in schools would be a real benefit”

We agree - see our Clean Air recommendations to the inquiry at the end of our written statement. www.longcovidkids.org/uk-covid-inq...

#CleanAir #Education #COVIDInquiry

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Kevin Courtney TUC

"What was in children’s interest was managing the pandemic properly, managing it inline with science"

UK COVID INQUIRY
#COVIDInquiry #Education #Childhood

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Sir Hamid Patel, @staracademies.org
Speaking about the inconsistent information families received.

"This inconsistency placed families in a a moral and emotional dilemma - do you protect your loved ones? do you comply with attendance rules?"

"We took a

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Baroness Anne Longfield:
Speaking about the resilience of schools - how to protect children and staff against infection.

#COVIDInquiry #Education #CleanAir

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Sir Hamid Patel, Star Academies - National ventilation standard for schools.
"there is a need to retrofit a solution"
"mechanical ventilation upgrade/ HEPA filters"
"disadvantaged areas are the ones that often have a poor infrastructure"
"link the Co2 data with learning outcomes"
#COVIDInquiry

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 4d

Matthew Coffey CB, #Ofstead
Does Ofstead have any insight as to why children weren't attending?
"It was clear there were problems", "one of fear and conflicting messages"
"People took the line of least resistance, which was to not attend"
#Attendance

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 3d

The statement from @helen-goss.bsky.social LCK Scotland is now published and available on our website.

Under the section - 'Module 8 Children and Young People.'

www.longcovidkids.org/uk-covid-inq...
#Scotland #COVIDInquiry

UK COVID INQUIRY | Long Covid Kids

This page outlines Long Covid Kids’ involvement in the UK COVID-19 inquiry, sharing how we’ve represented children, young people, and families affected by Long Covid and related conditions at a nation...

www.longcovidkids.org

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 3d

Prof Emerita McCluskey
Q - "That report helps to understand on the part of children who had Long Covid that desire on their part to go back to school is that as you read it? "
A - "Yes"
"Children with Long Covid are are exactly the same as any other child they want to go to school"

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 5d

A 'mum whose daughter has struggled for years with the effects of Covid is inviting SNP health secretary Neil Gray to hear her story in person at their home'
“Her room is like a hospital. She’s very sick and that’s what I want him to see.” @helen-goss.bsky.social

bit.ly/3IJ3PZY #LongCovidKids

Westhill mum of long Covid girl invites SNP health chief to see suffering for himself

Helen Goss says her daughter Anna, 12, is one of the “forgotten children” who deserve better.

bit.ly

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Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 5d

Anna's powerful #artwork made us all weep when we first saw it.
I support @helen-goss.bsky.social request to the Scottish Health Sec. Children too sick to attend #education are loosing their childhood behind closed doors, the devastating situation must be seen - CYP need support now.
#Childhood

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 5d

The family’s MSP, Scottish Conservative Alexander Burnett , echoed her call.

He is concerned the money will not be targeted and claimed previous promises failed to materialise.

“All the while, services are closing and clinical expertise is being lost,” he said.
#LongCovidKids #Scotland #Aberdeen

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

#ProtectTheKids (Schweiz) @protect-the-kids.ch · 6d

Am 1. Oktober 2025 verschaffte @sammiemc.bsky.social den von #LongCovid betroffenen Kindern und ihren Familien vor der UK Covid-19 Inquiry Gehör. ❤️

Sie legte ein bedrückendes Zeugnis über den inakzeptablen Umgang der britischen Regierung mit #LongCovidKids ab. 💔

@longcovidkids.bsky.social

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Steve Griffin @profstevegriffin.bsky.social · 8d

The kids are not, and never were, OK💔

Brave testimony from @sammiemc.bsky.social on the impact of #LongCovidKids on her own, & 1000s of other families.

The gaslighting & influence of certain "public health" figures what wholly unacceptable 🤬

@longcovidkids.bsky.social

youtu.be/DFykYkqr5Z4?...

Covid 19 Inquiry | Module 8 Oral Evidence of Sammie McFarland, Long Covid Kids | 01 10 2025

YouTube video by Long Covid Kids

youtu.be

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Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 6d

Hi @natashadevon.bsky.social
If we want to reduce long term sick we need to protect children from infections, and for that we need clear public health messaging.
bsky.app/profile/samm...

Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 9d

⚠️ No parent should ever be in this position, no child should be refused healthcare.
If the truth had been shared with the general public, we wouldn’t have been left without support.

Module 8. U.K. COVID Inquiry
@longcovidkids.bsky.social

#CovidInquiry #LongCovidKids #Parenting

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Steve Griffin @profstevegriffin.bsky.social · 7d

They will NOT be forgotten, Sammie ❤️

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Reposted by Sammie McFarland

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 7d

We are delighted to feature in The Week Junior in their UK COVID Inquiry article.
Image of the children's banner, @merelpianist.bsky.social and supporters.

"@sammiemc.bsky.social , from the charity LCK, said that Long Covid has had a big impact on children’s health and education & that schools

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Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 7d

Are you setting out on a personal challenge in the new year?
Do you run an organisation looking for their next 'charity of the year' to support?
Do you bake?
Please consider LCK.
As, yet, we haven't secured core funding, and rely on donations from supporters to keep LCK on track.
Thank you.

Long Covid Kids @longcovidkids.bsky.social · 7d

Behind every donation is hope.
Hope for children & young people living with Long Covid.
Hope for safer schools & a healthier future.

Every donation or fundraiser makes a difference.
donate.justgiving.com/charity/long...

#FundraisingFriday #LongCovidKids #LongCovid

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Sammie McFarland @sammiemc.bsky.social · 8d

All our inquiry work is here.
www.longcovidkids.org/uk-covid-inq...
#LongCovidKids

UK COVID INQUIRY | Long Covid Kids

This page outlines Long Covid Kids’ involvement in the UK COVID-19 inquiry, sharing how we’ve represented children, young people, and families affected by Long Covid and related conditions at a nation...

www.longcovidkids.org

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