1 in 9 Canadians have already experienced Long COVID, according to Statistics Canada 2023 data. Since 2022, our research team has examined the experiences of people with Long COVID (PwLC), family caregivers, and clinicians, on how they access information and care for the condition in British Columbia.

A significant finding of our early work is that public and healthcare-system awareness of Long COVID must be greatly improved. Our team has worked with partners to help raise awareness and reduce stigma of the condition. In April 2024, we held a hybrid patient-panel event in Vancouver, moderated by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Ed Yong. Currently, we have a Long COVID exhibit on-show at the Museum of Vancouver. Please see below for more information on these initiatives.

Our current research takes a national scope, examining the impact of the shift to virtual healthcare for Long COVID in Canada. We learned from survey findings that while virtual care can improve accessibility via reduced infection risk and bodily-energy costs, its access must be greatly improved, especially among PwLC from equity-deserving populations. Our studies highlight the need for further research into equitable and effective virtual healthcare strategies for Long COVID and other chronic conditions, considering the intersectional nature of health experiences.