Mortality
The number of deaths that have occurred due to a specific illness or condition.
mRNA vaccine
Contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.
Multi-dose vial
Multi-dose vials contain more than one dose of a medicine/vaccine in a single vial.
Vial: a small container, typically cylindrical and made of glass, used especially for holding liquid medicines.Neutralisation
One way that our immune system can protect us from infection is neutralisation, where our immune cells make a protein called an antibody that coats the virus and prevents it from getting into our cells. They also help other parts of the immune system recognise and destroy the virus.
Pandemic
Worldwide spread of a new disease, such as a new influenza virus or the coronavirus, COVID-19.
Pathogen
An agent of disease such as a virus or bacterium.
Peer-review
A process where independent scientists examine findings from a study and determine if the work has been performed well and the findings are supported by the data.
Placebo
A substance or treatment that has no effect on human beings.
Polysaccharide vaccine
Vaccines that are composed of long chains of sugar molecules that resemble the surface of certain types of bacteria. Polysaccharide vaccines are available for pneumococcal disease.
Pre-Clinical Trial
A research study that is done prior to a Clinical Trial using cells or using animals to test whether a vaccine is promising enough to be evaluated with human volunteers.