VOA标准英语2009年-US Faces H1N1 Flu Vaccine Shortage

By Elizabeth Lee
Washington
29 October 2009

 
The H1N1 intranasal vaccine¹, Boston, 09 Oct 2009 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is not enough H1N1 vaccine available for everyone in the United States. And schools and clinics around the U.S. are experiencing the results of the shortage.

It is a frightening experience for some children, but their parents consider them fortunate.

"You talk about it ahead of time and make sure they understand they need the shot," Tim Rigby explained, "that they're going to get the shot."

The original plan was to vaccinate² every elementary age student, with their parent's approval. But nurse coordinator³ Robin⁴ Wallin at Alexandria public schools outside of Washington now has to tell parents only children in pre-kindergarten through first grade can receive the H1N1 vaccine.

"The biggest problem that we've had is that our supply has not come in as fast as we have anticipated," Wallin said.

 
Tiffany Scruggs
Desperate parents trying to find the vaccine at clinics and other places are having a difficult time.

"They been calling all over trying to find it and they're so upset now it's not available but hopefully more will come," Tiffany Scruggs said.

Parents are upset because of the statistics. Health officials say more children have died from the H1N1 flu this year than from the regular influenza⁵ during an entire flu season.

In some cities, people wait for hours at mass vaccination⁶ clinics, just to be turned away when the supply is gone.

Pregnant women, health care workers and young children get the vaccine first. Many parents want to know when the next batch⁷ of vaccines⁸ will arrive for their older children.
 
 
Robin Wallin
"We're telling them we don't know," Wallin explained, "because we're really dependent on the vaccine arriving and we have no control over that."

Health officials say the H1N1 vaccine is difficult to grow, and that causes a delay in production and a shortage of vaccine. The CDC says there are now more than 22 million doses available, but there eventually will be some 225 million doses.

Because of the shortage, Tiffany Scruggs says her pediatrician advised her to have her son vaccinated⁹ as soon as possible.

"He told me he didn't have it available," she said, "so if the school did it's best to get it now than not be able to get it when I need it."

CDC director, Dr. Thomas Frieden says that is another reason why there aren't enough vaccines.

"It's quite likely that too little vaccine is one of the things that's making people more interested in getting vaccinated, frankly," Dr. Frieden said. "When we have shortages, we see an increase in demand."

The CDC expects the H1N1 vaccine to be widely available to the public by the beginning of December.

 

1 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。

2 vaccinate   

vt.给…接种疫苗；种牛痘

参考例句：

• Local health officials then can plan the best times to vaccinate people.这样，当地的卫生官员就可以安排最佳时间给人们接种疫苗。
• Doctors vaccinate us so that we do not catch smallpox.医生给我们打预防针使我们不会得天花。

3 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

4 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

5 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

6 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

7 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

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 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？