diff --git a/src/AlleleParser.cpp b/src/AlleleParser.cpp
index 615b5dab..c0fd0306 100644
--- a/src/AlleleParser.cpp
+++ b/src/AlleleParser.cpp
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ string AlleleParser::vcfHeader() {
         << "##INFO=<ID=AF,Number=A,Type=Float,Description=\"Estimated allele frequency in the range (0,1]\">" << endl
 
         // observation counts
-        << "##INFO=<ID=RO,Number=1,Type=Integer,Description=\"Reference allele observation count, with partial observations recorded fractionally\">" << endl
-        << "##INFO=<ID=AO,Number=A,Type=Integer,Description=\"Alternate allele observations, with partial observations recorded fractionally\">" << endl
+        << "##INFO=<ID=RO,Number=1,Type=Integer,Description=\"Count of full observations of the reference haplotype.\">" << endl
+        << "##INFO=<ID=AO,Number=A,Type=Integer,Description=\"Count of full observations of this alternate haplotype.\">" << endl
         << "##INFO=<ID=PRO,Number=1,Type=Float,Description=\"Reference allele observation count, with partial observations recorded fractionally\">" << endl
         << "##INFO=<ID=PAO,Number=A,Type=Float,Description=\"Alternate allele observations, with partial observations recorded fractionally\">" << endl