When Will Covid Vaccines Be Available Around the World?
2021-05-20
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1Experts say it could be 2023 or later before COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in some countries.
2The United States, Israel and Britain are among the countries where more than half of the population has gotten at least one injection, or shot.
3But, some countries have fewer than one percent of their populations vaccinated.
4They include South Africa, Pakistan and Venezuela.
5About 10 countries - mostly in Africa - reportedly have no vaccines at all.
6There are many reasons for the difference.
7Economic ones play an important part.
8But, some people say, so do intellectual property laws that cover scientific discoveries.
9These laws protect people's creative or scientific work from being reproduced without their permission.
10The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has supported waiving intellectual property protections for the vaccines.
11But it is not clear if there will be agreement on the issue.
12It is also unclear if such an agreement would speed production.
13COVAX, a United Nations-supported project, aims to ensure that poor countries around the world are able to get vaccines.
14But COVAX has run behind schedule.
15The reason for the delay is partly because India, a vaccine manufacturer, has banned vaccine exports as it faces increased coronavirus infections.
16Some countries are also stockpiling vaccines.
17Stockpiling means getting and keeping a large supply of something for future use.
18In April, researchers at Duke University said that, even with help from COVAX, many countries would not be able to reach a 60 percent vaccination level until 2023 or later.
19Matthew Kavanagh is a global health policy expert at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Kavanagh suggested that preordering partly explains why rich countries have more vaccines.
20"The U.S., European and other wealthy nations long ago preordered nearly all the doses available and now other countries, even with the money to buy, are at the back of line waiting," Kavanagh said.
21China and Russia are among the countries that have committed to giving vaccines to other nations.
22Others, including the United States and Britain, have not yet opened their stockpiles, although they have committed to doing so.
23However, some experts expect low vaccine supplies to continue for years to come.
24"There is simply not enough vaccine to go around," Kavanagh said.
25I'm John Russell.
1Experts say it could be 2023 or later before COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in some countries. 2The United States, Israel and Britain are among the countries where more than half of the population has gotten at least one injection, or shot. But, some countries have fewer than one percent of their populations vaccinated. They include South Africa, Pakistan and Venezuela. About 10 countries - mostly in Africa - reportedly have no vaccines at all. 3There are many reasons for the difference. Economic ones play an important part. But, some people say, so do intellectual property laws that cover scientific discoveries. These laws protect people's creative or scientific work from being reproduced without their permission. 4The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has supported waiving intellectual property protections for the vaccines. But it is not clear if there will be agreement on the issue. It is also unclear if such an agreement would speed production. 5COVAX, a United Nations-supported project, aims to ensure that poor countries around the world are able to get vaccines. But COVAX has run behind schedule. The reason for the delay is partly because India, a vaccine manufacturer, has banned vaccine exports as it faces increased coronavirus infections. Some countries are also stockpiling vaccines. Stockpiling means getting and keeping a large supply of something for future use. 6In April, researchers at Duke University said that, even with help from COVAX, many countries would not be able to reach a 60 percent vaccination level until 2023 or later. 7Matthew Kavanagh is a global health policy expert at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Kavanagh suggested that preordering partly explains why rich countries have more vaccines. 8"The U.S., European and other wealthy nations long ago preordered nearly all the doses available and now other countries, even with the money to buy, are at the back of line waiting," Kavanagh said. 9China and Russia are among the countries that have committed to giving vaccines to other nations. Others, including the United States and Britain, have not yet opened their stockpiles, although they have committed to doing so. However, some experts expect low vaccine supplies to continue for years to come. "There is simply not enough vaccine to go around," Kavanagh said. 10I'm John Russell. 11Victoria Milko reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ 12Words in This Story 13dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug or vitamin that is taken at one time 14waive - v. to officially state that you will not use or require something that is usually required by law or agreement 15schedule - n. a plan of things that will be done that includes the times when they will be done 16commit - v. to say that you will definitely do something; to require someone to do something