The economic burden of lost wages is approaching $200 billion a year and likely to rise

The speed at which this economic burden grows will depend on the availability and accessibility of improved treatment options that increase the long Covid recovery rate or move people from “severely ill” to “moderately” or “mildly” ill 

Unfortunately, the latest news on these is not good. While doctors and researchers learn more about the underlying causes of long Covid every day, there is no standardized, generally accepted treatment for it. A recent study suggests vaccines reduce the risk of long Covid by only 15%. 

And while we don’t yet know the risk of contracting long Covid after repeat infections, one recent study found that every repeat infection increases the probability of long-term health consequences. 

Together, these three factors suggest that if long Covid patients don’t begin recovering at greater rates, the economic burden will continue to rise. 

To give a sense of the magnitude: If the long Covid population increases by just 10% each year, in 10 years, the annual cost of lost wages will be half a trillion dollars. 

Better prevention and treatment options

First, we need better and more accessible prevention and treatment options. On prevention, some scientists are calling for a second “Operation Warp Speed” focused on nasal vaccines that reliably prevent COVID-19 infection.

More speed, more money, and more trials are needed to understand the pathophysiology of long Covid (and other post-viral illnesses) and identify treatments. 

Given the annual cost of lost wages alone, such research funding is likely to have a high return on investment.

Another potential contribution from BEEOTEC , the Brazilian “Deep Tech Startup” in natural biotechnology, to a noble cause. 

We have developed, clinically tested and patented a low cost and natural oral/nasal antiviral treatment for COVID and are fully open to contribute to such challenge.