中英對照讀新聞》Vaccine inequity remains Achilles’ heel of COVID-19 response in Americas-PAHO泛美衛生組織：疫苗不平等依然是美洲因應新冠病毒疫情的致命傷

秘魯醫療工作人員3月在利馬一處疫苗接種站，推著一名坐著輪椅的老婦去接種疫苗。（彭博檔案照）

◎管淑平

The unequal distribution of vaccines which protect against COVID-19 is the weak point in efforts to combat the disease in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization said on Wednesday.

泛美衛生組織（PAHO）週三說，防範新冠病毒疫情的疫苗分配不平等，是目前美洲對抗此疾病的最大弱點。

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"A handful of companies produce all the world’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines," PAHO Director Dr. Carissa Etienne said during the organization’s weekly virtual briefing.

「全球新冠病毒疫苗供給量，全由少數幾家公司生產」，PAHO主任埃蒂安在該組織每週視訊簡報會中說。

"Many of them are letting price and country of origin, not need, determine how doses are rolled out, so much of today’s vaccine supply remains in the hands of wealthy nations around the world."

「它們當中許多公司由價格、產地國，而非依照需求，來決定如何供應疫苗，現今許多疫苗在全球少數富國手上。」

Countries are also suffering because of production delays, leaving them waiting for doses purchased months ago, she said. (Reuters)

她說，各國也受生產延宕之累，使它們苦等數月前採購的疫苗。（路透）

新聞辭典

Achilles’ heel：片語，致命傷，致命弱點。例句：Physics is my Achilles’ heel.（物理學是我的致命傷。）

supply：名詞，供應量；動詞，供應，提供。例句：Don’t be panic. We have a large supply of food.（不要驚慌，我們有大量的食物。）

roll out：片語，推出，實施。例句：The government will roll out a tax reform plan next week.（政府下週將推出一項稅制改革計畫。）

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