As millions struggle with debilitating long COVID symptoms, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces new strategies to ramp up research, testing, and treatment development.
Long COVID in 2025: A Lingering Crisis
More than two years after the WHO declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency, an estimated 20 million Americans continue to suffer from long COVID—a complex condition marked by persistent symptoms for three months or longer after a COVID-19 infection.
Symptoms vary widely—from fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath to debilitating physical limitations. Despite billions in research funding, many patients say progress has been slow, treatments are limited, and diagnosis remains elusive.
RFK Jr.’s New Focus: Accountability and Acceleration
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently convened a high-level roundtable to reassess the U.S. response to long COVID. His criticism of the $1.5 billion NIH investment—which he claims has delivered “literally nothing”—underscored a shift in tone toward urgency and accountability.
“We’ve already put $1.5 billion into NIH to solve long COVID, and we’ve got literally nothing from it,” Kennedy stated during the event.
The meeting included doctors, researchers, and advocates calling for more directed research, faster clinical trials, and active participation from the pharmaceutical industry.
What Experts Say Needs to Happen Next
1. Diagnostic Tools and Biomarkers
Dr. Michael Peluso of UC San Francisco, who attended the roundtable, emphasized the need for biomarkers to:
- Help clinicians diagnose long COVID accurately
- Identify which patients might respond best to specific treatments
- Support disability claims and insurance coverage
2. Rapid Expansion of Clinical Trials
Peluso called for a dramatic scale-up in clinical trials to test multiple theories and therapies—including antivirals, immunotherapies, and monoclonal antibodies.
“I’d like to see a dozen more clinical trials right now,” he said.
3. Industry Engagement
Pharmaceutical companies are largely absent from long COVID research. Peluso and others are urging the private sector to:
- Submit existing drugs for testing
- Invest in new treatments tailored to long COVID symptoms
- Partner with government agencies in solution-focused trials
The Patient Perspective: “We’ve Waited Long Enough”
Meighan Stone, Executive Director of the Long COVID Campaign and a long COVID patient herself, expressed cautious optimism following the roundtable.
“It was really good to see Secretary Kennedy bringing all parts of government together,” she said.
Stone, like many patients, has spent five years advocating for real solutions—particularly those that enable:
- Faster FDA approvals for clinical trials
- Development of a universal diagnostic test
- Access to therapies that reflect the multi-system nature of long COVID
Long COVID’s Hidden Toll on American Life
Although the general public may feel the pandemic is behind them, long COVID is still disrupting millions of lives, particularly:
- Adults in their prime working years
- Children and adolescents, where recent data shows long COVID has overtaken asthma as the most common chronic condition
Stone pointed out that many patients are still unable to return to work, school, or everyday responsibilities like volunteering or caregiving.
“This is not going away. People that have been sick for years are continuing to be sick.”
A Call to Action: Hope and Political Engagement
Both Peluso and Stone stressed that public and political momentum is critical. They encouraged patients and allies to:
- Call members of Congress to support long COVID research and care
- Demand faster action from agencies like the FDA and HHS
- Push for trials involving antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and precision diagnostics
“We didn’t see the progress we needed under the Biden administration,” said Stone. “But we are ready to work with this one to finally solve this problem.”
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters Beyond Long COVID
Peluso believes that the effort to tackle long COVID could have broader health system benefits, from understanding post-viral syndromes to strengthening chronic disease care infrastructure.
“Long COVID is challenging to treat, but if we have the resources and strategy, it’s a problem we can solve.”
