VOA慢速英语2020 欧美9大制药商承诺遵循科学标准开发新冠疫苗

Nine leading American and European drug-makers promised to follow scientific standards in the race to develop an effective coronavirus vaccine¹.

9家领先的美国和欧洲制药商承诺在研发有效新冠病毒疫苗的竞赛中遵循科学标准。

The companies, including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca, made the promise after concerns were raised that safety standards might decline in the attempt to find a vaccine.

人们越来越担心各家公司在寻找疫苗的尝试过程中会降低安全标准，之后包括辉瑞、葛兰素史克和阿斯利康在内的公司做出了这样的承诺。

The companies said in a statement they would "uphold the integrity of the scientific process."

这些公司在声明中表示，他们将会“坚持科学程序的完整性。”

Other companies that signed the agreement included Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, Moderna, Novavax , Sanofi and BioNTech.

签署该协议的其它公司包括强生、默克、Moderna、诺瓦瓦克斯、赛诺菲和BioNTech。

Ugur Sahin is head of BioNTech in Germany. He said "We want it to be known that also in the current situation we are not willing to compromise safety and efficacy."

乌格·萨因是德国BioNTech公司的负责人。他表示，“我们希望让外界知道，即便在当前局势下，我们也不愿意在安全性和有效性上妥协。”

The promise to play by established rules comes at a time of highly politicized debate. The debate is over what actions are needed to quickly control COVID-19 and increase international business and trade.

遵守既定规则的承诺是在高度政治化辩论之际提出来的。这场辩论是关于需要采取哪些措施来快速控制新冠病毒并提升国际商贸。

Governments race to approve vaccines²

各国政府竞相批准疫苗

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had become the first country to approve a vaccine for COVID-19. But some scientists question whether its quick approval will lead to a safe vaccine.

上个月，俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京宣布俄罗斯已经成为首个批准新冠疫苗的国家。但是一些科学家质疑它的快速批准是否能生产出安全的疫苗。

The head of China's Sinovac Biotech has also said most of its employees and their families have already taken an experimental vaccine. The vaccine, developed by the Chinese company, is part of the country's emergency-use program.

中国诺华生物技术有限公司负责人也表示，该公司大多数员工及其家属已经接种了一种试验性疫苗。这种由中国公司开发的疫苗是该国应急使用计划的一部分。

Chinese companies and organizations which are involved in developing COVID-19 vaccines did not sign the agreement.

参与开发新冠疫苗的中国公司和机构并未签署该协议。

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said COVID-19 vaccines could be approved by the Food and Drug Administration just days before the November 3 presidential election.

上周，美国疾控中心表示，美国食品药品管理局可能会在11月3日美国总统大选前批准新冠疫苗。

The announcement followed comments from President Donald Trump³ suggesting that the U.S. may have a vaccine before the election. Senator Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's vice⁴ presidential nominee⁵, said she would not take Trump's word alone on any possible coronavirus vaccine.

在宣布这一消息之前，唐纳德·川普总统发表了评论，暗示美国可能会在大选前拥有疫苗。参议员卡马拉·哈里斯是民主党副总统提名人，她表示在新冠疫苗的可能性方面，她不会光听川普的承诺。

The drug-makers say approval for a COVID-19 vaccine must be based on trials of large groups of people from different ages, races and ethnic⁶ groups. The trials must compare similar groups that do not receive the vaccine in question. People taking part in the trial must not know which group they belong to.

制药商表示，一种新冠疫苗的批准，必须经过对不同年龄、种族和族裔的大量人群进行试验。试验必须与未接种相关疫苗的类似人群进行对比。参与试验的人士不能知道他们属于那个群体。

BioNTech's Sahin said there must be statistical⁷ certainty of 95 percent - and in some cases higher - from the trials to show a positive result.

BioNTech公司的萨因表示，试验展示阳性结果的统计确定性要达到95%，在某些情况下要求更高。

Michael Scholl is the chief executive of German vaccine developer Leukocare, which did not sign the promise. He said, "My biggest fear is that we will approve vaccines that are not safe." He noted⁸ that an unsafe vaccine will hurt the idea of vaccinations⁹ in general.

迈克尔·肖尔是德国疫苗开发商Leukocare的首席执行官，该公司未签署该承诺。他表示：“我最担心的是不安全疫苗会得到批准。”他指出，不安全的疫苗一般都会对疫苗接种的想法造成伤害。

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 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。

3 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。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 statistical   

adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 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》