Coronavirus infection is caused by beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that was indicated in samples of lung fluid from patients with pneumonia in Chinese town Wuhan at the end of 2019. The name of the virus derives from its shape on electron micrographs of the solar corona. SARS-CoV-2 is the abbreviation of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2. First, scientists identified the coronavirus family in 1965 that was relevant to the alphacoronavirus family, attached to a respiratory group of viruses, and caused cold-like symptoms.
Nowadays, the whole world is struggling with COVID-19 pandemics, and the key reason for its spreading and its high contagiousness are still being discovered. Some say it came from the animal world, while other researchers believe it was a laboratory leak from Wuhan Institute of Virology where scientists studied coronavirus on bats. Infection is mostly spread via respiratory droplets or aerosols from a sick person. Contamination can also be caused by touching surfaces after an infected human.
To become infected, people need close contact with each other, at least one meter. The viral load is also a significant epidemiological indicator which means, if not enough virions are inhaled, the person is less likely to become infected. However, according to a study by Yu and Yang (2020), asymptomatic patients have a similar viral load to the patients with symptoms, and they can spread the infection similarly. This fact remains a major issue of epidemiology as symptomless carriers are the “silent” spreaders of COVID-19.
To resist the infection, people were asked and later obliged to wear face masks. At the beginning of pandemics, everyone followed the rules; however, the constant regime of mask usage started tiring the population, and a decent part of people neglect masks explaining it as difficulties with breathing, lack of oxygen at subsequent fainting, along with many other reasons. Nevertheless, a sustainable number of individuals are following this rule. According to Shen et al. (2021), the proportions of people who always wear a face mask in New York, Texas, Florida, and California were estimated to be 76.6%, 71,7%, 58,7%, and 76,6%, respectively. As the numbers show, at least one-third of the population of these states reject mask usage.
A mask is an essential tool to restrain the infection. It consists of an outer part that has small “pockets” lean one to another that makes contaminative agents slide on its surface. On the inner part, on the opposite, the mask has valleys that hold each other from downstairs and “catch” bacteria and viruses.
In more simple words, a mask is a mechanical barrier to the infection, and it is advantageous to wear it. Still, some part of the population does not know this information and wear masks improperly: upside down, showing nose and mouth, and in other various interpretations. Furthermore, it was scientifically proved that mask use decreases the transmission rate in nearly linear proportion to the product of mask efficiency and coverage rate (Eikenberry et al., 2020). Soon after people start wearing masks properly, there is a higher chance to decrease the numbers of infected and, consequently, the percentage of seriously ill patients.
Vaccination is the second significant step on the way to limit the infection and start controlling it. Modern vaccines are made with the help of genetic engineering using mRNA or DNA of the virus inserted in host cells giving them instructions for making copies of spike proteins (parts of coronavirus). Spike proteins stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies and develop memory cells (T-lymphocytes). This pull of taught cells will be the first barrier to fight coronavirus infection the next time body meets it.
Currently, three vaccines are authorized by FDA in the United States. Pfizer-BioNTech shows more than 95% efficiency according to the study estimating 596,618 people (Dagan et al., 2021). Moderna is using the same technology as Pfizer but it has milder rules for transportation. Additionally, there have been reports about hypersensitivity reactions: 5,0 and 2,8 cases per million doses for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines respectively (Mustafa et al., 2021).
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is using a virus vector technology. Adenovirus is taken as a carrier of genetic code on the spike proteins to the cells. The advantage of this vaccine is easier storage and only one injection which makes the process of vaccination easier. Data released that Johnson & Johnson is 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 and 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 related hospitalization and death (Livivston et al., 2021). How long the antibodies will serve vaccinated people is still an open question as more time is needed for statistically right results. However, researchers claim that the average time for immunity is 8 months and, afterward, revaccination will be needed.
Thus, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the population needs an effective mask usage and a higher percent of vaccinated. No vaccine can promise resistance to the virus but all of them can milder the severity of the disease and prevent repercussions of the post-COVID syndrome. Being afraid to take a vaccine because of its side effects is senseless as the side effects of SARS-CoV-2 can be more severe. The group of people that are against vaccines should not believe in myths and propaganda and read scientific reports instead. Government can also help reduce this gap in common knowledge by spreading the information using simple language and supporting the population in vaccinating. With these changes, the number of infected will significantly reduce, and humans will be able to control the infection.
References
Eikenberry, S. E., Mancuso, M., Iboi, E., Phan, T., Eikenberry, K., Kuang, Y., Kostelich, E., & Gumel, A. B. (2020). To mask or not to mask: Modeling the potential for face mask use by the general public to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Infectious Disease Modelling, 5, 293-308. Web.
Livivston, E. H., Malani, P. N., & Creech, C. B. (2021). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19. JAMA, 325(15), 1575-1585. Web.
Mustafa, S. S., Ramsey, A., & Staicu, M. L. (2021). Administration of a second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine after an immediate hypersensitivity reaction with the first dose: Two case reports. Annals of Internal Medicine, 1-12. Web.
Shen, M., Zu, J., Fairley, C. K., Pagan, J. A., An, L., Du, Z., Gou, Y., Rong, L., Xiao, Y., Zhuang, G., Li, Y., & Zhang, L. (2021). Projected COVID-19 epidemic in the United States in the context of the effectiveness of a potential vaccine and implications for social distancing and face mask use. Vaccine, 39(16), 2295-2302. Web.
Yu, X., & Yang, R. (2020). COVID-19 transmission through asymptomatic carriers is a challenge to containment. Influenza Other Respiratory Viruses, 14(4), 474-475. Web.