Dive into some commonly asked questions or scientific terms that come up when talking about COVID-19 research. 

Frequently Asked Questions -

COVID-19 is an infection caused by the virus known as SARS-CoV-2. “COVID” is an abbreviated word representing “coronavirus disease”. The use of “19” represents the first year (2019) that this virus was identified. In 2020, the World Health Organization officially classified the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic.  

“SARS” is an acronym that stands for “severe acute respiratory syndrome”. “CoV” represents “coronavirus”. The number 2 in SARS-CoV-2 represents this virus’s similarity to the virus responsible for the SARS outbreak that occurred in the early 2000s. SARS-CoV-2 infection is also known as COVID-19.   

Viral variants emerge when alterations occur in the genome of the virus. These changes occur naturally and can make a virus more or less likely to successfully infect a host. Viral variance information provides researchers with data about how viruses spread locally and globally. Some genetic changes that create new variants cause more severe illness, require new testing methods to diagnose, or can be treated in different way than previous variants.  
 
CDC (2021, October 4) SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html 

Variants of concern are designated to new variants of COVID-19 for which there is research-based evidence of increased transmissibility, more severe disease, reduction of neutralizing antibodies, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, and/or if detection methods (such as PCR and rapid antigen testing) do not work. Scientists work rapidly to understand characteristics of a new variant. Based on research provided, public health officials may prioritize the development of new diagnostics or the modification of vaccines or treatments. Currently, two variants are deemed "variants of concern;" these are the Delta variant and the Omicron variant.

CDC (2021, December 1) SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions. COVID-19.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html#anchor_1632154493691

Masks are useful tools in limiting the spread of viruses that are spread by small respiratory droplets that become dispersed in the air, such as COVID-19. Mask wearing is especially useful when one is unable to socially distance, is indoors, or is experiencing symptoms of illness that could spread to others. As some individuals may not experience symptoms of illness it is safer to practice mask wearing in crowded areas just in case. Although mask wearing may be uncomfortable, there is no medical evidence to support physical side effects of wearing cloth or surgical masks during mild or intensive physical activity.  
 
Czypionka, T., Greenhaigh, T., Bassler, D., & Bryant, M. B. (2021, April). Masks and Face Coverings for the Lay Public. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-6625 

Spike proteins are surface proteins found on viruses such as COVID-19. Some vaccinations, like the COVID-19 vaccination, contain mRNA, which acts like a blueprint for building proteins. When the vaccination is injected into our arms, our cells learn how to build the surface proteins of a target virus. Our immune systems quickly identify that these proteins should not be there and we produce antibodies against them. Our immune systems remember these spike proteins so that if we become infected by the actual virus with these spike proteins on its surface, we will already have antibodies to fight the infection which reduces the chances of getting severely ill from the infection.  
 
CDC (2021, October 18) Understanding mRNA COVID Vaccines. COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html 

A breakthrough case occurs when a fully vaccinated individual becomes infected with the illness they were vaccinated against. Although infection may still occur after vaccination, individuals who are vaccinated are less likely to become severely ill from infection than those who are unvaccinated.  
 
CDC (2021, September 7) The Possibility of COVID-19 after Vaccination: Breakthrough Infections. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/why-measure-effectiveness/breakthrough-cases.html 

Vulnerable populations are groups of individuals who are more vulnerable to severe forms of infection. In the case of COVID-19, the CDC provides a generalized list of at-risk individuals. This list does not include rare diseases or diseases that may make children more susceptible.  

  • Cancer
  • Chronic Kidney, Lung, or Liver Diseases
  • Dementia or other memory disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Down Syndrome
  • Heart Conditions
  • HIV infection
  • Immunodeficiencies or Immunocompromising Conditions
  • Mental Health Conditions
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Pregnancy
  • Hemoglobin Blood Disorder (Sickle Cell or Thalassemia)
  • Past or Present Smoker
  • Transplant recipients (Solid tissue or Stem Cell)
  • Stroke
  • Substance Abuse Disorders
  • Tuberculosis

CDC (2021, October 14) People with certain medical conditions. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html 

The symptoms of COVID-19 may be different to each individual. For example, individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, may be at risk for more severe symptoms. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, chills, cough, body aches, shortness of breath, headache, exhaustion, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, congestion, or runny nose. Symptoms not listed here are also possible. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, get tested and stay home to prevent the spread of infection.  
 
CDC (2021, February 22) Symptoms of COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html 

The common side effects of COVID-19 vaccination include swelling or pain of the injection site, nausea, chills, fever, tiredness, and headache. Steps may be taken to reduce mild vaccination side effects including taking over-the-counter pain relievers. As with all vaccinations, there is an extremely low risk of having serious side effects following the COVID-19 vaccination.  

The government agency tasked with vaccine approval, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has the ability to authorize the use of a vaccine prior to completing the standard approval process ONLY when the product can be used to prevent life threatening illnesses in emergency situations where there is no other treatment available. This is known as Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). In these extreme circumstances, the known and potential benefits must outweigh the known and potential risks of authorization. Prior to requesting EUA, manufacturers must collect data from three phases of clinical trials. The first phase includes a small number of healthy people. The second phase includes a more diverse group of people with variable health statuses and at variable dosages. Phase three, similar to phase two, includes a much larger population base for study over a longer period of time with a control (placebo) included for comparison. EUA may be sought after an initial report of phase three has met strict guidelines proving that it is safe and that it prevents illness. Following EUA, manufacturers must continue to conduct clinical trials until approval is met. Additionally, the FDA works in conjunction with the CDC to monitor outcomes to uncover any safety issues that arise following EUA.  
 
Food and Drug Administration (2020) Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines/emergency-use-authorization-vaccines-explained 

Vaccine efficacy is a measurement found by comparing results from controlled trials (where a placebo is used) to compare the outcomes of individuals who did or did not receive the vaccine. The outcome, in the case of COVID-19, would be having or avoiding getting sick with COVID. The difference between the number of infected people in each group is used to calculate the percent efficacy. For example if the results of a comparison show that a vaccine is 90% effective this means that vaccinated individuals are 90% less likely to become ill; not that vaccination only works 90% of the time.  
 
World Health Organization (2021) Vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and protection. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/vaccine-efficacy-effectiveness-and-protection 

 

Glossary of Relevant (scientific) Terminology

Antibody: a component of the immune system that recognizes foreign substances, like viruses, and remembers them, providing protection against future exposures to that virus

Asymptomatic: when an infected person does not show symptoms of a disease

Booster: a later dose of a vaccine that results in a “boost” of the human memory immune response, to provide increased protection against the disease

Community transmission (spread): community spread illnesses are present in a local population, but the source of the infection is not known

Coronaviruses: a large family of viruses that usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illness, like the common cold

COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; this refers to the illness that SARS-CoV-2 causes

Endemic: the constant presence of a disease in a population within a geographic area

Epidemic: a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): a government organization responsible for protecting public health by ensuring safety, efficacy, and security of humans and veterinary drugs, biological products and medical devices, and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation

FDA approval: FDA approval of a drug means that data on the drug's effects have been reviewed by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and the drug is determined to provide benefits that outweigh its known and potential risks for the intended population

“Flattening the curve”: a strategy to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by implementing mitigation techniques, like wearing a mask, washing hands, and social distancing; it is in reference to the “epidemic curve”

Herd immunity: as percentage of people in a population acquire protective immunity, either through vaccination or infection, the amount of people in the population who can spread the disease decreases, decreasing the changes that susceptible individuals will become infected 

Immunity: a state of protection from infectious disease

Incubation period: the period of time between when a person becomes infected with something and when symptoms arise

mRNA vaccine: a new type of vaccine to protect against diseases; mRNA is genetic material that is used to make proteins; the vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is an mRNA platform that “tells your cells” how to make the spike protein

Mutations: mutations are minor genetic changes that occur to a genome (animal, plant, bacteria, or virus); these changes can alter the outcome of the gene 

Pandemic: epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting masses of people

SARS: a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV); SARS-CoV was the cause of the 2003 SARS global outbreak

SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; named due to its genetic similarity to SARS-CoV

Spike protein: a protein located on the outside of SARS-CoV-2 that the virus uses to enter human cells; however, your immune cells can recognize this protein and build a memory immune response to it

Superspreader: a certain individual that infects an unusually large number of people

Vaccine: train your immune system to create antibodies, just like it does when it’s exposed to a disease. Because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of viruses or bacteria, they do not cause the disease in you

Vaccine efficacy: in a controlled clinical study, efficacy is the degree to which a vaccine prevents disease

Virology: the scientific study of viruses

Waning immunity: A certain length of time after being infected or vaccinated with a disease, sometimes antibody levels will fall as the memory cells decrease

Zoonotic disease: diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms that are transmitted from an animal host to humans

Contributing authors Michaela Williamson and Madison Hebner