The COVID Time Capsule
Scientific Breakthroughs
COVID-19 not only reshaped our world as we knew it, but it also altered modern day science. As researchers and scientists hurried to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including how it was spread, how it entered the body, and more, they were the ones who were guiding our response to it as a whole.
Beginning to Understand the Virus
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is what causes the development of the Coronavirus infectious disease. Severe cases of COVID-19 involved an exaggerated immune reaction within the body, and was more commonly seen in the elderly or in individuals that already had underlying medical conditions, including diabetes, respiratory disease(s), cancer, or cardiovascular disease. While anyone can fall ill due to COVID, these patients were at much higher risk.
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The recommended ways to attempt at preventing or slowing down transmission of the virus was to acknowledge how it spreads and to incorporate habits based off of that into our routines. Examples of this would include social distancing, wearing a facial mask properly, and washing our hands or using effective hand sanitizer frequently. An extra beneficial step was to get vaccinated when you had the opportunity to do so.
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After long hours of constant research, scientists discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads from the mouth or nose via small liquid particles, which are exposed through coughing, sneezing, speaking, singing, or even breathing. Due to this conclusion, it became especially important to practice safe habits, such as sneezing into your elbow, staying home when you feel ill, and distancing yourself from others.
World Health Organization: WHO. (2020, January 10). Coronavirus. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
Description
This source was able to give us a solid foundation as to what the SARS-CoV-2 virus is, which is fundamental knowledge to have regarding something that was affecting our daily activities. It covers the basic information about it, such as who it primarily affects, how it spreads, and other main concepts. I chose to include this within my time capsule because it offers the scientific background needed to understand every other part of the COVID-19 pandemic experience. Before vaccines, debates, and new policies were created, all we had was the question of what we were being faced with and how do we battle it.
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Types of COVID-19 Vaccines
While COVID-19 vaccines helped lower the risk of getting sick, there were still various types of them. One thing they all had in common were their push for our immune systems to start creating proteins called antibodies, which is who was fighting the infection.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) Vaccine
"An mRNA vaccine gives cells instructions for how to make the S protein found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. The vaccine shot sends the mRNA into the muscle. Your muscle cells may take in the mRNA and make the S protein. Or the mRNA may be picked up by an immune cell. Either the mRNA or the S protein alerts the body to the risk of the virus. Then the body begins to create a response to prevent you from getting sick from the infection."
Vector Vaccine
"In this type of vaccine, material from the virus that causes COVID-19 is placed in a modified version of a different virus. This different virus is called a viral vector. The viral vector gives cells instructions to make copies of the COVID-19 virus S protein. Once the cells display the S proteins on their surfaces, the immune system responds by creating antibodies and defensive white blood cells. If infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 happens later, the antibodies help clear out the virus. Viral vector vaccines can't cause infection with the COVID-19 virus or the viral vector virus. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is a vector vaccine that's no longer used in the United States."
Protein Subunit Vaccine
"Subunit vaccines include only the parts of a virus that best stimulate the immune system. This type of COVID-19 vaccine has harmless S proteins in it. Once the immune system recognizes the S proteins, it creates antibodies and defensive white blood cells. If infection with the COVID-19 virus happens later, the antibodies help clear out the virus. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine."
How do different types of COVID-19 vaccines work? (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465
Description
This resource provided a clear, accessible explanation of the different types of COVID-19 vaccines developing during the pandemic. It was written in clear, simpler language so that a larger audience can understand and learn from it, which I found the most useful. It went over mRNA vaccines, vector vaccines, and protein subunit vaccines, which were all different variations we were seeing at the time. By breaking down each one by how it works, it highlights the quick and effective scientific innovation that happened in record time. Understanding how they work is a huge part of the scientific background aspect of the pandemic because they represent one of the biggest achievements of modern medicine.​​
WHO's COVID-19 Timeline Key Milestones
Information derived from the World Health Organization (WHO), which was recorded over the years 2020 to 2022.
January 30, 2020
"The Director-General declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), WHO's highest level of alarm."
April 4, 2020
"WHO reported that over 1 million cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed worldwide, a more than tenfold increase in less than a month."
September 28, 2020
"WHO joined with partners to make 120 million affordable, quality COVID-19 rapid tests available for low- and middle-income countries."
February 24, 2021
"COVAX's global rollout began, as Ghana became the first country outside India to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped via COVAX."
January 15, 2022
"COVAX delivered its billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose, with a shipment of 1.1 million doses to Rwanda."
March 18, 2020
"WHO and partners launched the Solidarity trial, an international clinical trial that aims to generate robust data from around the world to find the most effective treatments for COVID-19."
August 7, 2020
"WHO published updated guidance on public health surveillance for COVID-19, which includes revised suspected and probable case definitions that integrate new knowledge about the clinical spectrum of COVID-19 and its transmission"
December 14, 2020
"United Kingdom authorities reported a SARS-CoV-2 variant to WHO. The United Kingdom referred to the variant as SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 (Variant of Concern, year 2020, month 12, variant 01)."
April 7, 2021
"COVAX delivered life-saving vaccines to over 100 economies, 42 days after its first international delivery. As of this date, COVAX had delivered more than 38 million doses across six continents."
Timeline: WHO's COVID-19 response. (n.d.). https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/interactive-timeline#!
Description
This timeline created by the World Health Organization to display their primary scientific, policy, and information milestones is such a fantastic way to present the "behind the scenes" action of the medical side of the pandemic. WHO provided us with a very structured and detailed overview of how they responded in real time as things were always evolving and new things were constantly being brought up. Upon first thought, most people will think of the pandemic as a completely chaotic time, but this timeline was able to bring back some structure to it all by showing its consistent progression. Along with that, it also gave explanations as to why we were being recommended specific practices, which was contextualizing the scientific and political responses that were shaping our everyday lives. It was a great inclusion for the time capsule because it paved out the pandemic in a chronological manner, showing us each step as they happened.