Episode 4: Systems of Survival: Chronic Illness in the Pandemic's Wake

Jessica Vasquez-Luna's "Systems of Survival" series examines how the pandemic exposed long-standing inequalities in health, labor, and policy. Each essay traces how race, class, and geography shaped vulnerability—from frontline workers and overcrowded housing to medical mistrust and systemic neglect. It also explores resilience through community-led responses, the ongoing impact of long COVID-19, and the intersection of holistic and institutional medical care.Long COVID reveals persistent and serious flaws in healthcare, with many sufferers unable to secure diagnoses or adequate treatment. Labelling it an 'unknown' condition is misleading, as existing healthcare systems consistently fail patients, especially marginalised groups. The widespread impact on work, social life, and daily tasks exposes deep inequalities. Governments, by acting as if the pandemic is over, ignore those with long COVID and reinforce systemic neglect. This situation underscores how long COVID both highlights and intensifies problems in healthcare and public health priorities.