Everyone involved in the Iditarod must be fully vaccinated against COVID

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Everyone involved in the Iditarod must be fully¹ vaccinated² against COVID

Transcript³

Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race gets underway in March. Officials require participants to be vaccinated. Mushers also won't stop at one remote community to avoid possibly spreading the virus.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins in March. This year, all humans associated with the race - mushers, veterinarians, volunteers - must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Emily Schwing reports from Anchorage.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOGS BARKING)

EMILY SCHWING: Last year's Iditarod followed a shortened course, and it didn't include stops in predominantly Indigenous⁴ villages in order to avoid spreading the virus. This year, it's the 50th running of the Iditarod, and officials are still trying to keep the virus off the 1,000-mile trail.

ROB URBACH: Many of these rural communities certainly don't have an ICU, much less ventilators. So why not reduce the risk?

SCHWING: Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach says there wasn't much choice other than to require COVID-19 vaccinations⁵ for anyone taking part this year, including press.

URBACH: Well, it's pretty simple. We couldn't go to Nome without it.

SCHWING: In fact, last year, without the vaccine⁶, the race didn't go to Nome at all. But this year they will. The race ends in Nome because back in 1925, a handful of mushers relayed a lifesaving treatment for a deadly diphtheria outbreak in the remote city. It's known as the Great Race of Mercy. Today's Iditarod follows a similar trail across Alaska. Now race officials are hoping the COVID vaccine will keep rural residents safe from the race itself.

PETE KAISER: Any precautionary steps you can take, I think, are good.

SCHWING: 2019 Iditarod champion Pete Kaiser was among some of the first people to be vaccinated in the state, even before last year's race. That's because he's Alaska Native. The Indian Health Service was able to get vaccines⁷ out to tribal⁸ members long before they were widely available to the general public.

KAISER: I don't think it really changes anyone's race strategy. I don't think it will change mine or anything like that.

SCHWING: The vaccine requirement did change the strategy for at least one veteran musher. Wade⁹ Marrs withdrew from the 50th anniversary race because he points out even vaccinated people, given omicron, can still spread COVID-19.

WADE MARRS: Their main reasoning was for the safety of the village travel, you know? And so I don't blame the race for doing what's right by them. But at this point in time, I mean, we all know that you get and spread the virus either way.

SCHWING: Because of the concern that even vaccinated people can contract and spread the virus, one village along the Iditarod trail has also opted¹⁰ out. Takotna will not serve as a checkpoint this year. It's normally a popular spot where mushers rest their dogs and nosh on homemade pie.

For NPR News, I'm Emily Schwing in Anchorage.

(SOUNDBITE OF LIMOUSINE'S "OISEAU DU MATIN")

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

5 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

7 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

8 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

9 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

10 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。