The mobilization against COVID-19 was impressive. A similar investment is needed to understand and treat the chronic resulting illness.

The mobilization against COVID-19 was impressive. A similar investment is needed to understand and treat the chronic resulting illness.

  • 👁️👄👁️
    53·
    1 year ago

    That investment is needed way more for other things, just like the 3693648 neglected things we need to have more focus on.

    • yumpsuit@lemmy.world
      81·
      1 year ago

      Mass disability is fucking expensive, actually.. You can care about fiscal responsibility without throwing inconvenient human beings under the bus.

      Even with the nebulous definitions, the significant economic impact of long COVID is clear. In July 2022 update of earlier figures, David Cutler of Harvard University estimates that the total economic cost of long COVID is $3.7 trillion. That’s $11,000 per capita or 17% of the 2019 gross domestic product (GDP).

      Cutler subdivides these costs into three components:

      Quality of life (QALY), which comprises 59% of the overall cost, or $2.195 trillion Lost earnings of $997 billion Medical care spending: $528 billion

      The Brookings report warns that Cutler’s estimate may actually be incomplete in that it does not include the economic impact of lower productivity (i.e., due to caretaking for others or working while ill).

      • Balios@kbin.social
        2·
        1 year ago

        Yeah, but it’s not noticeable to the billionaires, so they don’t see a reason to act.

        • yumpsuit@lemmy.world
          6·
          1 year ago

          Because I agree with the idea in your post that better things are still possible, and I don’t want you to give up on caring about this one thing and those 65 million people.

          Please do not parrot the ableism of austerity-brained politicians. Being able-bodied can be extremely temporary, and America treats disabled folks horribly. Support them.

    • fiat_lux@kbin.social
      31·
      1 year ago

      I hope that you are able to escape having something debilitating being deemed unimportant. I suspect you might underestimate the impacts on 65+ million people and their families, who often act as unpaid caregivers.

      • 👁️👄👁️
        1·
        1 year ago

        Wait until you learn about poverty and class warfare bro. Thats great to be morally superior with no compromises. Life doesn’t work that way.

        • fiat_lux@kbin.social
          31·
          1 year ago

          The intersection of disability with poverty and class warfare is a huge part of that. The majority of people with severe disability do not have incomes. People with less severe disabilities are still much more likely to have lower or no income. Disability is a class warfare issue.