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2019-2020学年度第8期总第807期
China joins global vaccine initiative (P2)
山东省烟台第二中学 孔洁
Activity 1 Leading in
The danger of a second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic has become dreadfully real in recent weeks.

Current situation (data as of 9 am BJT, Oct 17):

Global COVID-19 deaths surpassed 1.1 million on Friday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
•The Chinese mainland registered 13 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, all of which were imported, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.
•Leading experts warned that a new COVID-19 surge has already hit the United States as the country's case count topped 8 million on Friday.
•France confirmed 25,085 COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, pushing the total count since the epidemic outbreak in the country to 834,770, according to data released on Friday by health authorities.

With a new COVID-19 surge approaching in the world, what can we do?  

The need to develop vaccines and ensure their universal availability has become all the more paramount.  

What do you know about COVAX?
An initiative to promote international cooperation in fighting against the pandemic was raised.  

Activity 2 Skimming

What type of article is it?
News report

What’s the main idea of the passage?
China joined the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility, or COVAX.

How is the passage developed?  
Part 1 (para 1—9 ) China’s participation in COVAX
Part 2 (para 10—11) Vaccine development

Activity 3 Scanning

Part 2
Statements about vaccine development: Are they true (T) or false (F)?

•1. 40 vaccine candidates are now in the phase-3 trials.
•2. China has four vaccines in the third phase of trials, which are only under the trial stage domestically.
•3. Other countries, including Russia and the US, also have vaccine candidates.
•4. Russia produced its first batch of a COVID-19 vaccine in August.

Keys: 1-4 FFFT

Activity 4 Discussion
•Why did China join COVAX?

•China honors its commitment to turn COVID-19 vaccines into a global public good.
•China wants to take on a more assertive and influential international role.
•When the nest is overturned, no egg stays unbroken. Therefore, all the countries have the commitment to make joint efforts to fight against COVID-19.   

Activity 5 Group work
Work in groups. Give a speech about COVAX and call on more countries to join.  

•Plan your speech by organizing the following information.
•1. What is COVAX?
•2. What’s the aim of COVAX?
•3. Why is it urgent to join COVAX?
Activity 6  Language focus
Paraphrase the following sentences.
•1. The move shows that China honors its commitment to turn COVID-19 vaccines into a global public good.
•The move shows that China promises to shoulder its responsibility to make COVID-19 vaccines benefit people worldwide.

•2. Results showing the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidates will be available in December at the earliest.
••Results that show whether the vaccine candidates are safe or efficient will be released in December at the earliest.

With joint efforts of all the countries, we are sure to win the battle!