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Several vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed. There are different versions of the vaccines and they have been made in different countries. There have been a lot of problems with giving people vaccines. Some countries have had problems with the logistics of giving vaccines to people. Other countries can’t get the vaccines because drug companies can’t make doses fast enough. The problems mean that it will take longer for countries to go back to normal.

Leaders in Europe are angry at the vaccine companies. The vaccine companies that they ordered vaccines from have had delays. The delays mean that European countries are not getting the vaccines when they thought they would. The vaccine companies say it is not their fault. They say the EU should have ordered the vaccines sooner. They say that the UK hasn’t had issues with receiving the vaccine because they made their order 2-3 months earlier than the EU. The EU is angry that the companies are not following their contracts. In Asia, some countries are choosing not to use the vaccines yet. This has caused confusion as people want to get vaccinated but they can’t. In Japan, the drug safety agency is taking a long time to approve the vaccines even though they are already being used in other countries.

The leader of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is a big problem with poorer countries not getting vaccines. He says that rich countries are buying all of the vaccines too quickly. He said it isn’t fair for young people in rich countries to be vaccinated before vulnerable people in poorer countries. He says COVID-19 won’t go away if poorer countries can’t vaccinate their people. He challenged the UN countries to begin vaccinations in every country by April. Right now it’s mostly only the richer countries who have been able to start vaccinating.

Difficult Words

Logistics (n): The planning and organisation of something.

Dose (n): An amount of medicine needed.

Delay (n/v): To be later than expected.

Contract (n): A business document making a promise or agreement.

Vulnerable (adj): Being easily hurt or likely to be badly affected.

Activities

For listening practise, listen to the recorded article here:

American English Audio:

Match the Synonym!

 1. Logistics A. Late
 2. Dose B. Organisation
 3. Delay C. Document
 4. Contract D. Easily hurt.
 5. Vulnerable  E. Medicine amount.

True or False?

1. Only one COVID-19 vaccine has been created. T / F

2. There have been problems with giving the vaccines. T / F

3. There haven’t been any delays delivering the vaccines. T / F

4. The vaccine companies say the delays are their fault. T / F

5. The WHO is worried about poorer countries getting the vaccines. T / F

Unscramble the sentence!

1. of / There / different / are / vaccines / the / versions

2. have / Some / had / countries / problems

3. not / it / fault / vaccine / say / is / The / their / companies

4. won’t / go / away / COVID-19 / He / says

5. He challenged the UN countries.

Listening and Vocabulary

Listen to the article and fill in the words OR practice vocabulary and fill in the words.

American English Audio:

EnoughDevelopedPoorer
ConfusionStartOrdered

Several vaccines for COVID-19 have been (1)_____________. There are different versions of the vaccines and they have been made in different countries. There have been a lot of problems with giving people vaccines. Some countries have had problems with the logistics of giving vaccines to people. Other countries can’t get the vaccines because drug companies can’t make doses fast (2)_________. The problems mean that it will take longer for countries to go back to normal.

Leaders in Europe are angry at the vaccine companies. The vaccine companies that they (3)__________ vaccines from have had delays. The delays mean that European countries are not getting the vaccines when they thought they would. The vaccine companies say it is not their fault. They say the EU should have ordered the vaccines sooner. They say that the UK hasn’t had issues with receiving the vaccine because they made their order 2-3 months earlier than the EU. The EU is angry that the companies are not following their contracts. In Asia, some countries are choosing not to use the vaccines yet. This has caused (4)____________ as people want to get vaccinated but they can’t. In Japan, the drug safety agency is taking a long time to approve the vaccines even though they are already being used in other countries.

The leader of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is a big problem with (5)___________ countries not getting vaccines. He says that rich countries are buying all of the vaccines too quickly. He said it isn’t fair for young people in rich countries to be vaccinated before vulnerable people in poorer countries. He says COVID-19 won’t go away if poorer countries can’t vaccinate their people. He challenged the UN countries to begin vaccinations in every country by April. Right now it’s mostly only the richer countries who have been able to (6)________ vaccinating.

Conversation Questions

Take turns speaking with a partner or try to answer on your own:

1. Did you find this article interesting? Why or why not?
2. Did you learn anything new from this article? If so, what?
3. What do you think of this story?
4. Has your country had any problems with vaccine distribution?
5. When do you think you will be able to get the vaccine?
6. Was the EU wrong to block the vaccines going to the UK?
7. Should the UK share their vaccines with the EU despite the EU ordering theirs later?
8. Why do you think some Asian countries are waiting to give their vaccines?
9. Should richer countries be sharing their vaccines with poorer countries?
10. Do you think your country would be willing to share vaccines with another country?
11. Do you think another country should help your country get vaccines?
12. Do you think most people in your country want to get the vaccine?
13. Should richer countries put vulnerable people in poorer countries before their own healthier/younger people?
14. When do you think the world will be 100% back to normal?
15. Do you think the vaccine companies are doing a good job?
16. Do you know which vaccines are being used in your country?
17. What should happen with countries that can’t afford to buy vaccines for their people?
18. Do you think your country has done a good job with the coronavirus?
19. What is the current coronavirus situation in your country?
20. Do you think the vaccine will make everything back to normal?