The Trump administration's COVID-19 policies have been widely criticized for their lack of foresight and caution in addressing the long-term health effects of the virus, which continues to pose a significant risk even after initial infections resolve.
A growing body of research suggests that COVID vaccines offer protective benefits against longer-term health effects, but the Department of Health and Human Services has drastically limited recommendations about who should get the shot. The administration also halted Biden-era contracts aimed at developing more protective COVID vaccines, which has left many experts calling for increased funding and monitoring of people previously infected.
The Trump administration's stance on COVID-19 has been marked by a lack of transparency and scientific rigor, with officials downplaying the risks of the virus and questioning the safety of mRNA-based vaccines. The agency halted almost $500 million in funding for these vaccines, despite clinical trials performed before their release to the public.
Despite this, numerous studies have found that COVID-19 can cause unexpected and potentially chronic health issues, including increased risk of autism, delayed speech and motor development, accelerated weight gain, metabolic issues, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive deficits. Researchers estimate that the annual average burden of these long-term effects is estimated at $1 trillion globally and $9,000 per patient in the US.
The politicization around COVID-19 has obscured what science is increasingly confirming: the virus's potential to cause longer-term health problems. The growing awareness of this issue warrants more examination, as studies have found that people with neurocognitive issues such as changes in smell or headaches after infection had significant levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s in their blood plasma.
Inflammation caused by COVID-19 has also been linked to blood clots, arrhythmias, and higher risk of cardiovascular issues. A University of Southern California study found the risk for a major cardiac event remains elevated nearly three years after COVID infection, even among people who were not hospitalized.
The potential of COVID-19 to affect future generations is also yielding new findings, including changes to sperm that alter offspring's behavior in male mice. Many people are now living and struggling with the virus's after-effects, such as Dee Farrand, who experienced severe cognitive decline and cardiovascular issues after contracting COVID-19.
Overall, the Trump administration's COVID-19 policies have been marked by a lack of caution and scientific rigor, which has left many experts calling for increased funding and monitoring to address the long-term health effects of the virus.
A growing body of research suggests that COVID vaccines offer protective benefits against longer-term health effects, but the Department of Health and Human Services has drastically limited recommendations about who should get the shot. The administration also halted Biden-era contracts aimed at developing more protective COVID vaccines, which has left many experts calling for increased funding and monitoring of people previously infected.
The Trump administration's stance on COVID-19 has been marked by a lack of transparency and scientific rigor, with officials downplaying the risks of the virus and questioning the safety of mRNA-based vaccines. The agency halted almost $500 million in funding for these vaccines, despite clinical trials performed before their release to the public.
Despite this, numerous studies have found that COVID-19 can cause unexpected and potentially chronic health issues, including increased risk of autism, delayed speech and motor development, accelerated weight gain, metabolic issues, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive deficits. Researchers estimate that the annual average burden of these long-term effects is estimated at $1 trillion globally and $9,000 per patient in the US.
The politicization around COVID-19 has obscured what science is increasingly confirming: the virus's potential to cause longer-term health problems. The growing awareness of this issue warrants more examination, as studies have found that people with neurocognitive issues such as changes in smell or headaches after infection had significant levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s in their blood plasma.
Inflammation caused by COVID-19 has also been linked to blood clots, arrhythmias, and higher risk of cardiovascular issues. A University of Southern California study found the risk for a major cardiac event remains elevated nearly three years after COVID infection, even among people who were not hospitalized.
The potential of COVID-19 to affect future generations is also yielding new findings, including changes to sperm that alter offspring's behavior in male mice. Many people are now living and struggling with the virus's after-effects, such as Dee Farrand, who experienced severe cognitive decline and cardiovascular issues after contracting COVID-19.
Overall, the Trump administration's COVID-19 policies have been marked by a lack of caution and scientific rigor, which has left many experts calling for increased funding and monitoring to address the long-term health effects of the virus.