Pre-reading questions:
- Have you been vaccinated? If so, for what disease? If not, would you try it?
- What do you do to stay healthy?
Vocabulary:
- press conference /pres KON-fer-uhns/
- distribute /dih-STRIB-yoot/
- authorization /aw-ther-uh-ZEY-shuhn/
- otherwise /UHTH-er-wahyz/
- sufficient /suh-FISH-uhnt/
[noun] – a meeting at which a person or organization makes a public statement and reporters can ask questions
The prime minister will hold a press conference this Monday.
[verb] – to give something out to several people, or to spread or supply something
Kindly distribute the test papers to your classmates.
[noun] – the action of giving someone official permission for something
We were given authorization to use the meeting room this afternoon.
[conjunction] – differently, or in another way
We need to hurry up; otherwise, we’ll miss the train.
[adjective] – enough for a particular purpose
The evidence provided is not sufficient enough to prove his innocence.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced at a press conference on Friday, September 4 in Switzerland, that the United Nations (UN) health agency will not issue any COVID-19 vaccines unless proven safe and effective. Despite the usage of experimental vaccines in Russia and China, Ghebreyesus reassures that all vaccines WHO will distribute to the public have undergone proper testing. However, some countries aside from China and Russia continue to practice using vaccines with proper authorization. In Britain, the government allows the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines as long as they meet safety and quality standards despite not being licensed.
Russia was the first country to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine in August. The vaccine, otherwise known as Sputnik V, is being tested on about 40,000 citizens in the country. This includes one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughters and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. On September 4, Russian scientists published a data report of their studies that show that the vaccines are safe. However, the limited results lack the sufficient evidence to prove this. China, on the other hand, has been using their own experimental vaccines in the country. In the meantime, large-scale studies to prove the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness are still ongoing.
Russia was the first country to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine in August. The vaccine, otherwise known as Sputnik V, is being tested on about 40,000 citizens in the country. This includes one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughters and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. On September 4, Russian scientists published a data report of their studies that show that the vaccines are safe. However, the limited results lack the sufficient evidence to prove this. China, on the other hand, has been using their own experimental vaccines in the country. In the meantime, large-scale studies to prove the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness are still ongoing.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is the name of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine?
- Based on the article, what does the British government allow to do?
- What countries use their experimental vaccines on patients?
- What did the director general of WHO announce last September 4?
- How many people in Russia have been vaccinated with Sputnik V?
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think would be the side effects of using vaccines that are not fully tested?
- If given the chance, will you agree to be vaccinated using Sputnik V? Why or why not?
- Has Japan been making its own vaccine?
- Do you think vaccines are safe for people of all ages? Please explain your answer.
- When do you think WHO will distribute COVID-19 vaccines?