VOA慢速英语--阿斯利康公司生产的一种更便宜、更有效的COVID-19疫苗

Britain's AstraZeneca and scientists at the University of Oxford¹ reported Monday that their vaccine² candidate could be up to 90 percent effective against COVID-19.

It is the third drug-maker in recent days, along with Pfizer and Moderna, to report promising³ news from early results of a vaccine candidate.

The group said the results came from 131 COVID-19 infections in large Phase 3 trials using two different vaccine treatments. The treatment of a half first dose followed by a full second dose one month later was found to be 90 percent effective. The treatment using a full dose for both was found to be 62 percent effective.

The Oxford scientists said early results also showed no hospitalized or severe cases in anyone who received the vaccine.

Professor Andrew Pollard is Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group. He said, "These findings show that we have an effective vaccine that will save many lives." Pollard added if the more effective treatment of a half first dose is used, "more people could be vaccinated⁴ with planned vaccine supply."

AstraZeneca's chief executive Pascal Soriot has promised that the drug-maker is not planning to make a profit from the vaccine. Its vaccine will cost about $2.50 a dose. Based on the agreements with the U.S. government, those from Moderna and Pfizer will cost between $15 and $25 a dose.

Unlike vaccine candidates from Pfizer and Moderna, the one from the Oxford-AstraZeneca group does not require extreme-cold storage. This makes for easier transportation and storage in developing countries.

AstraZeneca says it will now immediately present the vaccine data to regulators around the world for conditional⁵ or early approval. The drug-maker added it will also seek "an Emergency Use Listing from the World Health Organization" to make the vaccine available sooner in developing countries.

Zahid Maleque, the health minister of Bangladesh, called the findings "really good news." He told Reuters, "The big advantage of having the vaccine is that it can be stored, transported and handled at 2-8 degrees Celsius⁶, and we have that storage facility." Bangladesh is buying 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Who will get the vaccine and when?

With several promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates, the attention will now center on who will get vaccinated and when.

The British government has said that if the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine proves effective, the first 30 million doses would be for Britons. Separately, AstraZeneca signed deals to make at least 300 million doses available for the United States and another 400 million for European Union members.

Under its Operation Warp⁷ Speed program, the U.S. also has agreements to buy vaccines⁸ from Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax.

Dr. Moncef Slaoui is head of Operation Warp Speed. He said healthcare workers and other high-risk people could start getting shots produced by Pfizer within a day or two of emergency use approval next month. He said on the American channel CNN, "I would expect, maybe on day two after approval on the 11th or 12th of December, hopefully the first people will be immunized across the United States."

Over the weekend, leaders of wealthy nations met virtually for the G-20 summit. The group, which included Britain, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and others, stressed the importance of making COVID-19 vaccines, drugs and tests available around the world.

The group agreed it would "spare no effort to protect lives." It also expressed support for COVAX, an international effort to provide COVID-19 vaccines to 92 low- and middle-income countries.

Dr. Seth Berkley is head of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. He said the organization has raised $2 billion so far for the COVAX effort. He added, "We urgently need to raise at least an additional $5 billion by the end of 2021 to ensure equitable⁹ distribution of these vaccines to those who need them."

The U.S. government is not involved in the COVAX effort. However, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given $156 million to the effort.

Words in This Story

dose - n. the amount of medicine or drug that is taken at one time

regulator - n. government official who controls a public activity by making and enforcing rules

advantage - n. a good or desirable feature

facility - n. building or equipment that is built for a specific purpose

virtually - adv. happening on the internet or online

income - n. money that is earned

distribution - n. the act of delivering something to people

1 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

2 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。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 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？

5 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

6 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

7 warp   

vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见

参考例句：

• The damp wood began to warp.这块潮湿的木材有些翘曲了。
• A steel girder may warp in a fire.钢梁遇火会变弯。

8 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。

9 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。