CMV-specific CD8+ T cells have been shown to be bystander activated (i.e., activated through soluble factor signaling rather than antigen stimulation) during COVID-19.16,28 The third antigen, GILGFVFTL (Flu-GIL), is from the M1 protein of influenza (Flu); CD8+ T cells specific to this antigen do not undergo reactivation during SARS-CoV-2 infection.29 Thus, T cells specific to these three immunogenic antigens represent three distinct populations during COVID-19 and so are expected to also exhibit unique phenotypic characteristics. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and COVID-19.