VOA标准英语2009年-US Development of H1N1 Vaccine Hits Snag

By Vidushi Sinha
Washington
10 November 2009

Health officials around the world say they are frustrated¹ by the shortage of vaccine² to protect against the H1N1 flu. The United States and other wealthy countries have promised to donate 10 percent of their supply to developing countries. But due to a global shortage, that has not happened yet.

 
Stephen Morrisson
So far, more than 400,000 people around the world have caught the H1N1 virus, and more than 6,000 have died. Stephen Morrisson at the Center for Strategic and International Studies calls the international commitment to combat the virus a watershed³, and he still expects the wealthy nations to keep their promises.

"I have seen no evidence that there [has] been a decline or weakening of commitment to fulfill⁴ the 10 percent obligation," he said.

The problem boils down to an international vaccine shortage. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says the shortage is a result of biology, not incompetence⁵.

"You really can't do anything when you have a virus that doesn't grow well except trying to wiggle it around to get it grow better," Dr. Fauci said.

But Morrison says scientists have to find new ways to make vaccines⁶.

"Production of vaccines remain highly uncertain and antiquated⁷ - there needs to be a focus on what kind of technological⁸ innovation can move us out of this antiquated possibility and make better use of other technologies that could accelerate production," he explained.

 
Manufacturing the H1N1 vaccine
U.S. public health officials say there might not be enough H1N1 vaccine to meet the needs of the high risk population in the United States until December, and possibly not until January.

U.S.Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius says that will impact the timing⁹ of when the U.S. can donate vaccine to developing countries.

"The president clearly has made it clear that his priority is safety and security of American people, and immediately he also adds that we are a global partner, so we have joined now with 11 nations in terms of 10 percent of the vaccine will be available to developing countries," Sebelius said.

The World Health Organization plans to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to 95 developing countries. Distribution was supposed to start in November.

1 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 incompetence   

n.不胜任，不称职

参考例句：

• He was dismissed for incompetence. 他因不称职而被解雇。
• She felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss's incompetence. 她觉得，本是老板无能，但她却成了替罪羊。

6 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。

7 antiquated   

adj.陈旧的，过时的

参考例句：

• Many factories are so antiquated they are not worth saving.很多工厂过于陈旧落后，已不值得挽救。
• A train of antiquated coaches was waiting for us at the siding.一列陈旧的火车在侧线上等着我们。

8 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

9 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。