Health Minister Warken to expand Long-Covid care for youth - Germany launches nationwide Long COVID care initiative for young patients

Germany is expanding support for young people suffering from Long COVID and related conditions. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has launched a nationwide initiative to improve care, research, and treatment access. The move comes as roughly 1.5 million people in the country live with Long COVID, with children and teenagers facing particular challenges.

Since early 2025, 20 interdisciplinary care centres have been treating predominantly 12- to 18-year-olds. These facilities also assist patients with post-vaccination symptoms or ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), regardless of the cause. Saxony has already approved comprehensive care for its 300 affected young patients, including adapted schooling and local therapy options.

The federal government is funding the PEDNET-LC project, a network of 65 clinics and research institutions, with around €41 million until 2028. Dresden alone will receive about €5.6 million to strengthen diagnostics and treatment. Minister Warken has pushed for broader access to off-label medications, increased research, and better outreach to underserved areas.

In 2023, around 80,000 children and adolescents were among over 620,000 people in Germany diagnosed with ME/CFS, the severe form of post-COVID illness. The new initiative aims to address the growing need for specialised care among young patients.

The expanded network will provide targeted support for young Long COVID patients across Germany. With federal funding and regional measures, families will have better access to medical care and adapted education. The project also seeks to improve long-term research and treatment options for affected children and teenagers.