ME Association blog post: APPG on ME: Annual General Meeting and the impact of COVID-19 on people with ME/CFS, April 6 2021

The Annual General Meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) will take place on Monday 19 April between 11:00 – 12:00.

In addition to AGM business, this meeting will focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ME community.

Points of discussion will include the clinical and pathological overlaps between ME and Long Covid, the COVID-19 vaccination programme and JCVI guidance for ME patient prioritisation, and the general challenges facing the ME community at this difficult time.

At this stage two guest speakers are confirmed who will share their expertise through short presentations and a Q&A discussion:

• Dr David Strain, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School and Honorary Consultant in medicine for the older adult who is heavily involved in the British Medical Association COVID response team.
• Dr Nina Muirhead, a Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Dermatologist who is actively working to deliver better education for healthcare professionals on the topic of ME.

Carol Monaghan MP, chair

MPs and Peers should RSVP to carol.monaghan.mp@parliament.uk if they are hoping to attend this meeting so they can obtain the zoom link.

1.  How to contact your MP:

Members of the APPG on ME are being informed about this meeting

If you have an issue relating to COVID-19 and ME that you want to bring to the attention of your MP, or want to encourage your MP to attend this meeting, please contact your MP direct from this link.

2.  Background Information relating to the overlap between Long Covid and ME/CFS:

The overlap between ME/CFS and Long covid from a British Medical Association publication, including contributions from Dr David Strain, Dr Nina Muirhead, Dr Charles Shepherd and Dr Amy Small can be read here.

Article in Pharma Technology Focus

Dr David Strain talking on the BBC Horizon programme on Long Covid.

View official APPG web page –  lists officers & gives link to documents, parliamentary questions & debates