隨著新冠病毒在南非的快速傳播,研究人員經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種全新的新冠病毒變種,而該國(guó)卻苦于無(wú)法獲得足夠的疫苗,難以為全民接種。
新冠病毒變種C.1.2最先于5月在約翰內(nèi)斯堡和比勒陀利亞(南非首都)所在的省發(fā)現(xiàn)。首批發(fā)現(xiàn)該病毒的科學(xué)家在一篇公開發(fā)布的研究論文中指出,盡管該毒株還未被世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)劃分為“值得注意的變種”或更加危險(xiǎn)的“引發(fā)關(guān)切的變種”,但它依然可能會(huì)提升病毒的傳播性和抗體規(guī)避能力。
其他變種,包括知名的德爾塔變種,已經(jīng)在全球未接種人群中造成了嚴(yán)重的危害。至于C.1.2今后將如何演變,以及它將為南非的大量未接種人群帶來(lái)什么樣的影響,還有待繼續(xù)觀察。
《財(cái)富》雜志在分析美國(guó)疾病控制中心(CDC)的數(shù)據(jù)后發(fā)現(xiàn),南非已經(jīng)接種新冠疫苗的人口約為10%。與非洲的很多國(guó)家一樣,南非苦于無(wú)法獲得足夠的疫苗來(lái)為其所有民眾接種。尼日利亞和肯尼亞的疫苗接種比例僅為0.7%和1.5%。一邊是發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家開始為民眾接種新冠疫苗加強(qiáng)針,另一邊是發(fā)展中國(guó)家仍然苦于疫苗短缺,世界衛(wèi)生組織也對(duì)全球“疫苗不平等”問題提出了批評(píng)。
而作為全球“新冠肺炎疫苗實(shí)施計(jì)劃”(COVAX)的一部分,南非已經(jīng)獲得了多個(gè)國(guó)家的疫苗捐助,例如美國(guó)在7月捐贈(zèng)560萬(wàn)支疫苗基礎(chǔ)上,于8月底向南非又捐贈(zèng)了220萬(wàn)輝瑞(Pfizer)-BioNTech疫苗。非洲聯(lián)盟(African Union)的特使斯特拉夫·馬希依瓦曾經(jīng)批評(píng)發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家拖延兌現(xiàn)“在2021年年底向非洲提供7億支疫苗”的目標(biāo)。
強(qiáng)生(Johnson & Johnson)最近也遭到了猛烈的抨擊,原因在于公司將其在南非生產(chǎn)的疫苗出口給歐洲?!度A爾街日?qǐng)?bào)》(Wall Street Journal)于9月2日?qǐng)?bào)道稱,如今數(shù)百萬(wàn)強(qiáng)生疫苗將被撤回,并發(fā)放給非洲國(guó)家。
南非總?cè)丝谟?000萬(wàn),到2021年年底,其目標(biāo)是為至少67%的人口接種新冠疫苗。約翰內(nèi)斯堡大學(xué)(University of Johannesburg)和人類科學(xué)研究理事會(huì)(Human Sciences Research Council)旗下發(fā)展、能力和道德狀況(Developmental, Capable and Ethical State)研究部門的報(bào)告稱,盡管疫苗接種猶疑人群的數(shù)量整體有所下降,但該國(guó)卻仍然有人依然不愿意接種疫苗。南非國(guó)家衛(wèi)生部(National Department of Health)的報(bào)告顯示,在8月13日之前接種疫苗的人群當(dāng)中,僅有40%為男性。
到目前為止,南非是受新冠疫情沖擊最嚴(yán)重的非洲國(guó)家。截至9月2日,南非新增新冠肺炎確診病例超過14.4萬(wàn)例,新增死亡病例235例。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:馮豐
審校:夏林
隨著新冠病毒在南非的快速傳播,研究人員經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種全新的新冠病毒變種,而該國(guó)卻苦于無(wú)法獲得足夠的疫苗,難以為全民接種。
新冠病毒變種C.1.2最先于5月在約翰內(nèi)斯堡和比勒陀利亞(南非首都)所在的省發(fā)現(xiàn)。首批發(fā)現(xiàn)該病毒的科學(xué)家在一篇公開發(fā)布的研究論文中指出,盡管該毒株還未被世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)劃分為“值得注意的變種”或更加危險(xiǎn)的“引發(fā)關(guān)切的變種”,但它依然可能會(huì)提升病毒的傳播性和抗體規(guī)避能力。
其他變種,包括知名的德爾塔變種,已經(jīng)在全球未接種人群中造成了嚴(yán)重的危害。至于C.1.2今后將如何演變,以及它將為南非的大量未接種人群帶來(lái)什么樣的影響,還有待繼續(xù)觀察。
《財(cái)富》雜志在分析美國(guó)疾病控制中心(CDC)的數(shù)據(jù)后發(fā)現(xiàn),南非已經(jīng)接種新冠疫苗的人口約為10%。與非洲的很多國(guó)家一樣,南非苦于無(wú)法獲得足夠的疫苗來(lái)為其所有民眾接種。尼日利亞和肯尼亞的疫苗接種比例僅為0.7%和1.5%。一邊是發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家開始為民眾接種新冠疫苗加強(qiáng)針,另一邊是發(fā)展中國(guó)家仍然苦于疫苗短缺,世界衛(wèi)生組織也對(duì)全球“疫苗不平等”問題提出了批評(píng)。
而作為全球“新冠肺炎疫苗實(shí)施計(jì)劃”(COVAX)的一部分,南非已經(jīng)獲得了多個(gè)國(guó)家的疫苗捐助,例如美國(guó)在7月捐贈(zèng)560萬(wàn)支疫苗基礎(chǔ)上,于8月底向南非又捐贈(zèng)了220萬(wàn)輝瑞(Pfizer)-BioNTech疫苗。非洲聯(lián)盟(African Union)的特使斯特拉夫·馬希依瓦曾經(jīng)批評(píng)發(fā)達(dá)國(guó)家拖延兌現(xiàn)“在2021年年底向非洲提供7億支疫苗”的目標(biāo)。
強(qiáng)生(Johnson & Johnson)最近也遭到了猛烈的抨擊,原因在于公司將其在南非生產(chǎn)的疫苗出口給歐洲?!度A爾街日?qǐng)?bào)》(Wall Street Journal)于9月2日?qǐng)?bào)道稱,如今數(shù)百萬(wàn)強(qiáng)生疫苗將被撤回,并發(fā)放給非洲國(guó)家。
南非總?cè)丝谟?000萬(wàn),到2021年年底,其目標(biāo)是為至少67%的人口接種新冠疫苗。約翰內(nèi)斯堡大學(xué)(University of Johannesburg)和人類科學(xué)研究理事會(huì)(Human Sciences Research Council)旗下發(fā)展、能力和道德狀況(Developmental, Capable and Ethical State)研究部門的報(bào)告稱,盡管疫苗接種猶疑人群的數(shù)量整體有所下降,但該國(guó)卻仍然有人依然不愿意接種疫苗。南非國(guó)家衛(wèi)生部(National Department of Health)的報(bào)告顯示,在8月13日之前接種疫苗的人群當(dāng)中,僅有40%為男性。
到目前為止,南非是受新冠疫情沖擊最嚴(yán)重的非洲國(guó)家。截至9月2日,南非新增新冠肺炎確診病例超過14.4萬(wàn)例,新增死亡病例235例。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:馮豐
審校:夏林
As COVID spreads rapidly in South Africa, researchers have identified a new COVID-19 variant, as the country struggles to get enough vaccines to inoculate its population.
The variant, C.1.2, was first discovered in May in the provinces where Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, are located. The strain has not yet been classified as a “variant of interest” or as a more dangerous “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, but it is still associated with increased transmissibility and ability to avoid antibodies, according to a research paper published by the scientists who first identified it.
Other variants, including the prominent Delta variant, have wreaked havoc among the unvaccinated around the world. It is yet to be seen how C.1.2 will progress and how it will affect South Africa’s large unvaccinated population.
The country has vaccinated approximately 10% of its population, according to a Fortune analysis of CDC data. South Africa has had trouble attaining enough vaccines to fully inoculate its population, like many other countries on the continent. Nigeria has vaccinated 0.7% of its population, and Kenya has vaccinated 1.5% of its citizens. The WHO has criticized plans for developed nations to begin offering booster shots to its citizens while developing nations struggle to secure vaccines.
South Africa has received vaccine donations from several nations including the United States, which sent it 2.2 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses this weekend, on top of 5.6 million doses it sent in July as part of the global vaccination program COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, or COVAX. African Union special envoy Strive Masiyiwa has criticized rich countries for lagging on their goal to send 700 million doses to Africa by the end of 2021.
Johnson & Johnson was also sharply denounced recently for exporting doses produced in South Africa to Europe. The Wall Street Journal reported on September 2 that millions of Johnson & Johnson vaccines will now be returned and distributed to African countries.
By the end of 2021, South Africa aims to have vaccinated 67% of its population of 60 million. Some in the country have been reluctant to get the vaccine, despite hesitancy declining overall, according to a report by the University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division. Only 40% of those who were vaccinated by Aug. 13 were men, according to a report by South Africa's National Department of Health.
So far, South Africa is the African country hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 2, the country reported more than 144,000 active cases and 235 daily deaths, according to the South African health department’s website.