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听力参考原文 ↓↓↓ [00:00.04]Experts say it could be 2023 or later [00:05.76]before COVID-19 vaccines [00:08.84]are widely available in some countries. [00:12.44]The United States, Israel and Britain are among the countries [00:18.56]where more than half of the population [00:21.60]has gotten at least one injection, or shot. [00:26.28]But, some countries have fewer than one percent [00:30.48]of their populations vaccinated. [00:33.40]They include South Africa, Pakistan and Venezuela. [00:38.56]About 10 countries — mostly in Africa — reportedly have no vaccines at all. [00:46.64]There are many reasons for the difference. [00:50.40]Economic ones play an important part. [00:53.76]But, some people say, so do intellectual property laws [00:59.08]that cover scientific discoveries. [01:01.96]These laws protect people's creative or scientific work [01:07.12]from being reproduced without their permission. [01:10.68]The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden [01:15.20]has supported waiving intellectual property protections for the vaccines. [01:21.40]But it is not clear if there will be agreement on the issue. [01:27.16]It is also unclear if such an agreement would speed production. [01:33.44]COVAX, a United Nations-supported project, [01:37.64]aims to ensure that poor countries around the world [01:42.16]are able to get vaccines. [01:44.96]But COVAX has run behind schedule. [01:48.32]The reason for the delay is partly because India, [01:53.08]a vaccine manufacturer, has banned vaccine exports [01:58.08]as it faces increased coronavirus infections. [02:02.32]Some countries are also stockpiling vaccines. [02:06.48]Stockpiling means getting and keeping [02:09.92]a large supply of something for future use. [02:13.92]In April, researchers at Duke University said that, [02:19.16]even with help from COVAX, [02:21.76]many countries would not be able [02:24.08]to reach a 60 percent vaccination level [02:27.88]until 2023 or later. [02:31.12]Matthew Kavanagh is a global health policy expert [02:35.76]at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. [02:39.96]Kavanagh suggested that preordering [02:43.56]partly explains why rich countries have more vaccines. [02:48.36]'The U.S., European and other wealthy nations [02:52.84]long ago preordered nearly all the doses available [02:57.84]and now other countries, even with the money to buy, [03:02.12]are at the back of line waiting,' Kavanagh said. [03:07.08]China and Russia are among the countries [03:09.92]that have committed to giving vaccines to other nations. [03:14.12]Others, including the United States and Britain, [03:18.96]have not yet opened their stockpiles, [03:21.96]although they have committed to doing so. [03:25.16]However, some experts expect low vaccine supplies [03:30.48]to continue for years to come. [03:33.56]'There is simply not enough vaccine to go around,' Kavanagh said. [03:39.24]I'm John Russell. _______________________ Words in This Storydose – n. the amount of a medicine, drug or vitamin that is taken at one time waive – v. to officially state that you will not use or require something that is usually required by law or agreement schedule – n. a plan of things that will be done that includes the times when they will be done commit – v. to say that you will definitely do something; to require someone to do something |
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