The Covid-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2, has just 29 genes that are encoded in just under 30,000 letters of RNA. In other words, our genome has 100,000 times more information encoded in it than the Covid-19 virus. When a virus invades us, our immune system creates custom-designed cells (see that Ed Yong article) that recognize and destroy the virus. The vaccine itself will prime the immune system to recognize the Covid-19 virus without actually causing an infection. The virus can be ruthlessly effective, but our immune system can wipe it out if we give it the right clues.

Source: Forbes August 18, 2020 11:26 UTC