Thread by @BinitaKane

While certain UK paediatricians close ranks and defend a misguided (or guided?) trainee in promoting infection and reinfection of children with #COVID19 as a means of building immunity, I would like to tell you the story of a young boy, who I will call Jack (not real name) 🧵

I have family consent to share his story. Jack was previously healthy with no underlying health issues. He developed typical COVID symptoms in Apr 20 aged 9, and never recovered. After 18 months of being unable to tolerate an upright position, he was finally diagnosed with POTS.

Over the following year he had a lot of input from the NHS and had some treatment for POTS, despite this he was managing only a few hours at school.

This summer (after >2 years of disability) with support from me, the family scraped together savings and travelled to Germany. Jack had confirmed microclots, endothelial damage and hyperactivated platelets. He was started on treatment. Within 2 weeks he was dramatically better.

He seemed to be a ‘super responder’. Here is the message his Mum sent me, we both cried with joy 😭

(Please note, this is not the experience of all children treated with the same drugs).

He started High School in September 2022 with everyone else in his class, albeit that balancing the drug therapy with Jack’s newfound love of running around and rough and tumble has been challenging for the family. BUT he was doing really well.

Then in October 2022 he was reinfected with COVID. The school he attends has no COVID mitigations and have been sending pupils and teachers back into class with COVID ‘if feeling ok’. Jack has had a severe relapse with new symptoms which thus far has floored him again.

I am so heartbroken for Jack, his spirit has been crushed again, the family are back to severe anxiety over what to do and his future.

Here’s the message his Mum sent me on Friday.

I cannot tell you how angry it makes me that the very people who should be protecting our children are promoting infection as a means of ‘building immunity’, whilst purporting to care about vulnerable children.

The same individuals argue that ‘schools are safe’, do not promote clean air in schools, appear anti-mask and support not vaccinating children <12 against COVID i.e. they promote NO protection whatsoever.

Some are also in bed with right wing lobbyists such as Vinay Prasad and Us4Them. They have a significant influence over UK policy.
As many of you will know, the @RCPCHtweets have declined our offer to meet with families and will not issue a statement on Long COVID in kids, WHY?

I am incredibly lucky to have got my daughter back to a point where she can live a life. But the threat of reinfection is a constant worry. She has access to classrooms with HEPAs, she is thankfully very aware of opening windows and so far has been safe.

My daughter’s school has been amazing, they are even supporting the building DIY filters, but not everyone is this lucky.

I asked Jack’s mum for a quote and this is what she said;

I wish the same paediatricians could walk for ONE DAY in Jack’s shoes and then spout the same nonsense on social media about how COVID builds immunity and letting it spread is a good thing.

It needs to STOP.

I am just so grateful for international community for supporting #LongCovidKids. I have faith that through a global research effort we can change things for our children.
It’s a sad place the U.K. is in right now.
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