Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to appear before the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. This appearance comes as the government faces questions and criticism over its handling of the pandemic, which has resulted in thousands of children being disabled by Long Covid.
According to the Office for National Statistics, approximately 1 in 165 children and young people, equivalent to around 72,000 individuals, have reported experiencing symptoms of Long Covid after a second COVID-19 infection.
For families living with the long-term consequences of the virus, this is not only a political issue but also a deeply personal one. Under Johnson’s leadership, the government failed to adequately prepare schools for the pandemic and neglected to address the risks posed to children. This left them without proper protection, clear guidance, or access to necessary medical support.
According to Claire Every, an advocate for Long Covid, the government’s failure to prepare schools for the pandemic was not accidental, but rather ideological. Johnson’s comparison of Long Covid to “Gulf War Syndrome” exposed a belief system that disregards biological illness and attributes it to psychological factors. These beliefs have influenced policies that have left children unprotected, under-researched, and unheard.
The Long Covid Advocacy (LCA) organization has warned that these failures have resulted in delayed diagnoses, disrupted education, and devastating isolation for affected children. They are calling on the Inquiry to hold political leaders accountable for the long-term disability crisis affecting thousands of families in the UK.
Despite having one of the largest populations of children with post-acute viral disability in Europe, the UK lacks adequate medical understanding or effective treatments for Long Covid. Many children are still being denied necessary accommodations to access education and medical investigations due to a culture that continues to view post-viral illnesses, such as ME/CFS, through a psychosomatic lens.
Dr. Rupert Higham from the University College London’s Institute of Education believes that Johnson’s disregard for the truth is evident in the bodies of affected children. He emphasizes that these families are not seeking apologies, but rather justice, recognition, and change. This includes holding leaders accountable for past failures and taking preventative measures for the future.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their experience of being referred to social services rather than receiving support or medical care for their child with Long Covid. This disregard from the highest levels of government has left families traumatized and fearful of seeking help again.
In order to prevent similar failures in the future, LCA is calling on the UK government to implement measures to protect children in schools, such as clean air through effective ventilation and air filtration. Recent initiatives, such as Mayor Sadiq Khan’s investment in air filtration for London schools, demonstrate that protecting children’s health is both achievable and urgent.
Long Covid Advocacy will continue to closely monitor the Inquiry and amplify the voices of children and families living with the long-term effects of the virus.