United for vaccine

Humans are no strangers to widespread viruses, and each time a vaccine is developed, it gives us hope for the future. Now, the world is waiting for a vaccine to combat COVID-19.
人类不时会遇上广泛传播的病毒，而每当一种新疫苗被研发出来时，都会带给我们未来的希望。如今，全世界都在等待疫苗抗击新冠病毒。

Scientists worldwide have been rolling up their sleeves to work toward an effective novel coronavirus vaccine.
全球的科学家们都在努力研发有效的新冠疫苗。

Under the coordination of the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 172 countries have been engaging with the “largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio”, an initiative known as the COVAX Global Vaccines Facility.
在世界卫生组织的协调下，已有172个国家加入了“最大和最多样化的2019冠状病毒病疫苗组合”，这一倡议被称为“新冠疫苗全球获得机制”。

COVAX is “a mechanism for joint procurement and pooling risk across multiple vaccines”. When a vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, all countries within the facility will be able to access it, according to Xinhua.
“新冠疫苗全球获得机制”是“一种联合采购和平衡多种疫苗风险的机制”。据新华社报道，当一款疫苗被证实安全有效时，该机制下的所有国家都能获取这款疫苗。

The initiative aims to ensure that all countries, no matter their economic status, can get the vaccine in a timely manner when one is available. It also makes sure that prices will be kept as low as possible.
这一倡议旨在确保所有国家，不论其经济地位如何，都能及时获得可用的疫苗。这也确保了疫苗价格将尽可能保持在低位。

“A number of vaccines are now in the final stage of clinical trials,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Aug 24, adding that the goal of COVAX is to deliver at least 2 billion doses of a vaccine by the end of 2021.
“许多疫苗如今正处在临床试验的最后阶段，”世界卫生组织总干事谭德塞8月24日如此表示，并称“新冠疫苗全球获得机制”的目标是在2021年底前提供至少20亿剂疫苗。

According to the WHO, at present, nine potential vaccines are part of the portfolio.
据世界卫生组织介绍，目前该组合中共有九种潜在疫苗。

To guarantee the equal access and fair allocation of COVID-19 vaccines, the WHO has said that the world needs to prevent vaccine nationalism – countries putting their own interests ahead of others in trying to secure supplies of a possible vaccine.
为确保新冠疫苗的平等获取与公平分配，世界卫生组织认为全球须防止疫苗民族主义 —— 即国家将自身利益置于他国之上，试图封锁潜在疫苗的供应。

“Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus,” Tedros said, warning that it would lead to a prolonged pandemic if only a small number of countries got most of the supply.
“疫苗民族主义只会助长病毒，”谭德塞表示，他警告称，如果只有一小部分国家获得了大多数的疫苗供应，将会导致疫情延长。

“Like an orchestra, we need all instruments to be played in harmony to create music that everyone enjoys,” he said.
“就像一个管弦乐队，我们需要所有乐器和谐共鸣，奏出大家都享受的乐曲，”他说道。

Vaccine development looks promising, as several countries have made substantial progress. Russia began production of its first batch of a COVID-19 vaccine on Aug 15, according to its health ministry. It’s the world’s first registered vaccine. Four Chinese vaccine candidates have started international phase-3 clinical trials.
疫苗研发的前景充满希望，多个国家都取得了重大进展。据俄罗斯卫生部消息，该国于8月15日开始首批新冠疫苗的生产。这也是全球首个注册疫苗。四种中国疫苗已在国际上开展第三期临床试验。

以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报高中版》，详情请见《21世纪学生英文报高中版》高三721期