The White House will host a second global COVID-19 summit

The White House will host a second global COVID-19 summit

Transcript¹

NPR's A Martinez talks to Jeff Levi, George Washington University professor of Health Policy and Management, about the upcoming White House COVID Summit.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

If we've learned anything these last two-plus years, it's COVID-19 really respects no political borders. That's why the White House is hosting a global COVID summit with world leaders starting Thursday. It's the second summit of its kind, and the goal is to get governments around the world to commit more attention and more resources to containing the virus. Joining us now is George Washington University professor of health policy and management, Jeff Levi. Professor, with all the public health challenges the U.S. has faced in fighting COVID - we haven't been perfect here in the U.S., so how much credibility does it have to lead a global relief planning effort?

JEFF LEVI: Well, I think that's a really good question. And I think when the administration probably planned this summit, it hoped that the president would already have in the hand a congressional appropriation² to support a greater global effort. And I think that's going to be a challenge. I mean, the president, appropriately, is seeking a global commitment to solving a problem that's already caused almost 15 million excess deaths around the world. As you said, this virus does not recognize political borders, and especially as we worry about getting closer to normal and worry about variants³, making sure that as many people across the world are treated and vaccinated⁴ will benefit the United States. But Congress hasn't been willing to put the money forward.

MART?NEZ: So you're saying that the U.S. financially isn't in a position where maybe they could be or should be leading a global effort?

LEVI: That's correct. I mean, the United - you know, this has been a challenge since the beginning of the pandemic when the Trump⁵ administration withdrew support for the World Health Organization. The Biden administration has stepped up and resumed that support. But, you know, we need to be supporting financially not just the purchase and donation of more doses of vaccine⁶, but supporting the infrastructure⁷ that will make it possible to deliver those vaccines⁸, supporting the public health capacity in countries around the world so we can respond to this pandemic and any future pandemics. And that takes appropriations⁹ from Congress. And it seems at each stage this is a part of the pandemic response that Congress seems willing to cut back.

MART?NEZ: Professor, what about our mindset as a country? Do you think we're there to be leading this thing? I mean, it just feels like America and Americans have moved on on this. They've had enough.

LEVI: Well, I - you know, I think in one sense, a lot of Americans have moved on. In another, we are the country with the largest number of cases. And so it's - and the more we want to move on, the more important it is to make sure that we are supporting global efforts to contain this pandemic. And certainly the public health community and the leadership in this administration has not moved on and understands the depth of this problem.

MART?NEZ: What do you see as the most significant obstacle blocking global cooperation on COVID?

LEVI: Well, I think the biggest issue from the U.S. perspective is putting money on the table, but it takes more than money. We have to be willing to invest long term in public health capacity around the world. And there are also policy issues. You know, we are willing to donate and pay for vaccines, but we're not supporting changes in patent rules and other laws that would make it easier for low- and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccine and become self-sufficient in dealing¹⁰ with public health problems. And those are complex policy issues. You know, we have a model for the United States stepping forward and doing this sort of thing. The PEPFAR program, which is - was started under President George W. Bush, that has really built capacity in a lot of countries to deal with the HIV pandemic in a systematic¹¹ way, and that's actually been leveraged¹² to some degree in COVID. That's the sort of long-term investment we need to be making globally.

MART?NEZ: That's George Washington University professor of health policy and management, Jeff Levi. Thank you very much.

LEVI: Thank you.

1 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。

2 appropriation   

n.拨款，批准支出

参考例句：

• Our government made an appropriation for the project.我们的政府为那个工程拨出一笔款项。
• The council could note an annual appropriation for this service.议会可以为这项服务表决给他一笔常年经费。

3 variants   

n.变体( variant的名词复数 )；变种；变型；（词等的）变体

参考例句：

• Those variants will be preserved in the'struggle for existence". 这些变异将在“生存竞争”中被保留下来。 来自辞典例句
• Like organisms, viruses have variants, generally called strains. 与其他生物一样，病毒也有变种，一般称之为株系。 来自辞典例句

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 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

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 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

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 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

11 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

12 leveraged   

促使…改变( leverage的过去式和过去分词 )； [美国英语]杠杆式投机，（使）举债经营，（使）利用贷款进行投机

参考例句：

• Chrysler has traditionally been a highly leveraged company. 克莱斯勒一向是一家周转十分灵活的公司。
• Leveraged recaps have become popular for a number of reasons. 杠杆资本重组的大行其道有好几个原因。