BASic COVID-19 information
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without treatment. Some people, however, will become seriously ill and will need medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without treatment. Some people, however, will become seriously ill and will need medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
How is COVID Spread?
Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way to protect against harmful diseases, before coming in contact with them. It uses the body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes the immune system stronger. Vaccines help the body by teaching the immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it’s exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.
Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way to protect against harmful diseases, before coming in contact with them. It uses the body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes the immune system stronger. Vaccines help the body by teaching the immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it’s exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.
COVID Symptoms:
Symptoms of COVID-19 can vary from person to person. They may also vary in different age groups. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. Some of the more commonly reported symptoms include:
Symptoms of COVID-19 can vary from person to person. They may also vary in different age groups. Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. Some of the more commonly reported symptoms include:
- new or worsening cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- temperature equal to or more than 38°C
- feeling feverish
- chills
- fatigue or weakness
- muscle or body aches
- new loss of smell or taste
- headache
- abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting
- feeling very unwell
COVID Prevention:
While vaccines are helping to manage COVID-19, the virus is still out there. Prevention can be things like staying at home when sick, regular hand hygiene, wearing a mask in public spaces, get vaccinated, and maintaining physical distancing. Public health advice varies widely across Canada due to local situations. It's important that you:
While vaccines are helping to manage COVID-19, the virus is still out there. Prevention can be things like staying at home when sick, regular hand hygiene, wearing a mask in public spaces, get vaccinated, and maintaining physical distancing. Public health advice varies widely across Canada due to local situations. It's important that you:
- Continue to follow the recommendations and restrictions of your local public health authority.
- Assess the risks before going out and make informed decisions to keep yourself and others safe.
COVID Testing:
There are 2 main categories of COVID-19 tests. Those that diagnose and screen for an active infection and those that detect antibodies in response to a previous infection. Nucleic acid-based testing (commonly referred to as molecular testing) is the main type of test used in Canada to diagnose COVID-19. Of all the molecular tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most common. Molecular tests detect the virus's genetic material (nucleic acids). Antigen tests are used to detect virus proteins. While the technology is advancing, antigen tests are generally less sensitive than molecular tests for diagnosing COVID-19 in people who have no symptoms of illness (asymptomatic). Antigen tests are, however, useful for screening asymptomatic people if they are tested at regular intervals (called serial testing).
There are 2 main categories of COVID-19 tests. Those that diagnose and screen for an active infection and those that detect antibodies in response to a previous infection. Nucleic acid-based testing (commonly referred to as molecular testing) is the main type of test used in Canada to diagnose COVID-19. Of all the molecular tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most common. Molecular tests detect the virus's genetic material (nucleic acids). Antigen tests are used to detect virus proteins. While the technology is advancing, antigen tests are generally less sensitive than molecular tests for diagnosing COVID-19 in people who have no symptoms of illness (asymptomatic). Antigen tests are, however, useful for screening asymptomatic people if they are tested at regular intervals (called serial testing).
COVID Treatment:
Several different types of treatments for COVID-19 have been developed. Examples include drugs that reduce or stop the virus from multiplying in human cells and drugs that treat the symptoms of COVID-19.
Several different types of treatments for COVID-19 have been developed. Examples include drugs that reduce or stop the virus from multiplying in human cells and drugs that treat the symptoms of COVID-19.
BASic COVID vaccine information
What is a Vaccination?
Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way to protect against harmful diseases, before coming in contact with them. It uses the body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes the immune system stronger. Vaccines help the body by teaching the immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it’s exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.
Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way to protect against harmful diseases, before coming in contact with them. It uses the body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes the immune system stronger. Vaccines help the body by teaching the immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it’s exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.
COVID Vaccination:
COVID-19 vaccine ingredients:
COVID-19 vaccine ingredients:
- The active components in many vaccines are called antigens. Antigens are the parts of germs that teach the body's immune system to recognize and attack the real germ. mRNA and viral vector vaccines contain the instructions for the body to make a coronavirus protein, which is the antigen.
- Vaccines also contain small amounts of other ingredients, which serve a specific purpose. These ingredients aren’t harmful and leave the body a few days after vaccination. However, in some cases, some people might be sensitive to specific ingredients, resulting in an allergic reaction.
- COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are free of charge. They are available to everyone eligible to get the vaccine by federal, provincial, and territorial public health authorities. This applies to: Everyone in Canada 5 years of age and older, including those who aren't citizens.
COVID Vaccine Type and Booster:
COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada include:
COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada include:
- mRNA COVID-19 vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty for those 5 years of age and older.
- Moderna Spikevax for those 12 years of age and older.
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria for those 18 years of age and older.
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) for those 18 years of age and older.
- Can increase the immune response.
- Are expected to offer enhanced protection against infection and severe disease.
- May help reduce spread of infection.
COVID Vaccine Common Side Effects:
Side effects after vaccination are often part of the body's response to a vaccine. Your body responds this way because it's working hard to build protection against the disease. Common side effects after COVID-19 vaccination can last from a few hours to a few days. Common vaccine side effects may include:
Side effects after vaccination are often part of the body's response to a vaccine. Your body responds this way because it's working hard to build protection against the disease. Common side effects after COVID-19 vaccination can last from a few hours to a few days. Common vaccine side effects may include:
- Symptoms at the injection site, such as: More general symptoms, such as:
- redness
- soreness
- swelling
- chills
- fatigue
- joint pain
- headache
- mild fever
- muscle aches
Benefits of COVID Vaccine:
- Evidence indicates that vaccines are effective at preventing serious outcome due to COVID-19, such as severe illness, hospitalization and death. This includes protection against the variants of concern that are arising. However, there will be some people who are vaccinated who will still be infected with COVID-19 if they're exposed to the virus.
- People who have already had COVID-19 should be vaccinated for future protection. They may be offered 2 doses and a booster dose when eligible.
- COVID-19 vaccines help to prevent infection as well as complications. By helping prevent infection, vaccination can also help prevent post COVID-19 condition. This condition refers to symptoms some individuals experience for weeks or months after being infected with COVID-19. Symptoms can be very different from those during the initial infection.
- The condition can affect both adults and children.
COVID Vaccine Safety:
- Only vaccines that are proven to be safe, effective and of high quality are approved for use in Canada. The COVID-19 vaccines have been tested according to international standards during their development and then carefully reviewed by Health Canada.
- The vaccines can't give you COVID-19 because they don't contain the virus that causes it. The vaccines also can't change your DNA.