Efficacy

The percentage of how well a vaccine works during a clinical trial.

Vaccine effectiveness

The measure of how well a vaccine works, under real-world conditions, outside of clinical trials.

Compassionate use

In February 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the compassionate use license of 10,000 doses of Sinophram vaccines from China for the Presidential Security Group (PSG). This will allow members of the PSG and their families to skip the waiting line for COVID-19 priority groups.

More commonly known as “expanded access”, the FDA defines Compassionate Use as the access granted to a patient suffering from a life-threatening condition or disease to an investigational medical product (like biologic, drug, or medical advice) outside of clinical trials when no alternative options are available. 

Emergency Use Authorization

Issued by the FDA, Emergency Use Authorization is a mechanism that facilitates the availability of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines, during public health emergencies. This license allows the use of unapproved medical products or unapproved use of approved medical products during emergencies.

Before approval of the EUA submitted by manufacturers, the FDA would first evaluate the request following a criteria, including the totality of scientific evidence about the product.

Herd immunity

Also called “community immunity”, herd immunity is the reduced COVID-19 risk of infection within a population because of vaccination or previous exposure.

Mass testing

Mass testing is the act of finding individuals with active COVID-19 cases who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic so that quarantine, contact tracing, and testing of close contacts can be administered to prevent the spread of the virus.

Quarantine

Quarantine is the requirement for individuals who have been in close contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Individuals under quarantine have to:

• Stay at home for 14 days since last contact with COVID-19 positive patient.
• Watch their symptoms and check their temperature twice a day.
• Stay away from people who are at high risk.

Isolation

Isolation is a requirement for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and have to follow the following measures:

• If symptomatic, stay at home until
  • After at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared
  • After 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medicine
  • Symptoms have improved

• If asymptomatic, stay at home until after 10 days since you passed your test
• If living with others, stay in a separate room away from other people and pets. Also use a separate bathroom if possible.

Flattening the curve

Plotted on a graph, flattening the curve illustrates the slowdown of how COVID-19 spreads, which usually happens through different protective measures. A flattened curve also means less people would need healthcare at one time.

Community quarantine

Effort by the government to control the number of individuals going in and out of the area of quarantine individuals, communities, or large groups of people.

General community quarantine (GCQ) 

The implementation of temporary measures that limit movement and transportation, regulate operating industries, and require the presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine protocols.

Enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)               

The implementation of temporary measures imposing stringent limitations on movement and transportation of people, strict regulation of operating industries, provision of food and essential services, and heightened presence of uniformed personnel. Basically a stricter GCQ.

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ)      

The transition between ECQ and GCQ where temporary measures are relaxed.

Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ)        

The transition between GCQ and the New Normal, where temporary measures become less necessary.

NCR Bubble       

The travel bubble created in areas under ECQ, which is the Greater Manila region: Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna.

Asymptomatic 

An infected case who is not producing or showing any symptoms.

Pre-symptompatic

An infected individual who is not yet displaying symptoms of an illness or disease.

Incubation period           

The number of days between when a person is infected and when symptoms first appear.

Rapid test          

A test that detects the presence of a specific viral antigen, with results that can be obtained in just 15 minutes. This is done through a nasal swab. 

RT-PCR test       

Also known as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test, this test detects the presence of genetic material of a virus through nasal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, stool or blood samples. However, results take a longer time.