今年夏初，一些新冠疫苗接種率較高的國家眼看著即將迎來抗疫之戰的轉折，然而，傳播性極強的德爾塔變異毒株來勢洶洶，導致多國不得不開啓新一輪的防疫限制措施。
近日，世衛組織總幹事譚德塞也表示，“世界正面臨真正的危險，我們已經取得的防疫成果正在被侵蝕。”
面對肆虐的德爾塔以及新一波的疫情反彈，已有部分國家宣布或正考慮爲部分人群打新冠疫苗第三劑加強針。
Earlier this summer, countries with high vaccination rates were ready to turn a corner in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. But the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant in recent weeks has dampened that prospect and forced governments to reintroduce preventive measures.
To safeguard their return to normalcy, several countries that had already lifted most COVID-19 restrictions are starting to offer a third dose of the vaccine.
#1#
誰在打疫苗加強針？
7月29日，以色列總理宣布，該國將爲60歲以上已完成疫苗接種的人提供第三劑新冠疫苗加強針。這一決定宣布時，該國國內感染病例正不斷上升。
以色列衛生專家認爲，隨著時間的推移，疫苗效力變弱了。今年早些時候，以色列堪稱全球疫苗接種最成功的國家之一。
On Sunday, Israel started administering third shots to people over the age of 60. The country was among the first to embrace normal post-pandemic life after vaccinating more than 70 percent of its population earlier this year.
But with more “breakthrough” cases reported since the Delta variant became widespread, Israeli health experts believe the immunity offered by the original shots declines in people vaccinated over five months ago.
另外，英國計劃在9月初爲已經完成新冠疫苗接種的3200萬人提供加強針，最早將在9月6日啓動。
德國與法國已有一半人口完成了新冠疫苗接種，這兩個國家都計劃從9月起爲年老的人以及易感人群提供新冠疫苗加強針。
除此之外，有報道稱，日本、加拿大、瑞士以及新加坡等國家也有計劃在今年冬季或明年春季爲民衆提供加強針。
A similar situation is seen in Britain, which reopened its economy on July 19. Starting September, 32 million vaccinated Britons will be offered additional shots.
Germany and France, both with around half their population fully vaccinated, will give booster shots to elderly and vulnerable people from September.
Meanwhile, other countries with the ability to do so, including Japan, Canada, Switzerland and Singapore, are reportedly planning such a move in winter or early next year.
#2#
注射加強針是否有科學依據？
加強針能夠提供額外的保護嗎？接種加強針真的有必要嗎？這已成爲各國政府和科研界探討的話題。
7月，美疾控中心與美食品和藥物管理局曾聯合發布聲明說，已完成兩劑疫苗接種的美國人當下沒必要接種第三劑，但如果科學證明確實需要加強針，這兩個部門也“已做好准備”。
隨後，歐洲藥品管理局也發文稱，現在判斷是否以及何時需接種第三劑疫苗還“爲時過早”。
The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a joint statement that fully vaccinated Americans do not need a booster shot at this time, though the health regulators have indicated that a third shot may be needed for some high-risk groups.
同樣在7月，美國輝瑞制藥有限公司和德國生物新技術公司發表聯合聲明稱，注射輝瑞疫苗（BNT162b2）第三劑加強針有望幫助人體提高對包括德爾塔毒株在內的多種變異新冠病毒的抵禦能力。
聲明中說，接種第三劑疫苗試驗的初步數據顯示，接種第二劑疫苗6個月後注射第三劑，人體內抵禦新冠病毒和變異病毒貝塔毒株的中和抗體水平比接種兩劑時提高了5到10倍。
也有其他疫苗制造商支持爲人們接種加強針。美國制藥商莫德納（Moderna）的聯合創始人德裏克•羅西甚至表示，“就算每年需要接種一次加強針也不令人感到吃驚。”
Citing its non-peer-reviewed study last week, Pfizer suggested that a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine can significantly increase protection against the Delta variant. Other vaccine makers also supported the idea. Moderna co-founder Derrick Rossi even went as far as saying “it might not be surprising that we need a booster shot every year.”
#3#
世衛組織呼籲關注疫苗不公平問題
當一些富裕國家開始制定加強針的接種計劃時，許多貧窮國家卻面臨疫苗供應不足的情況。
世衛組織稱，高收入國家的每100人中接種了約100劑疫苗；由于缺乏供應，低收入國家每100人只接種了約1.5劑疫苗。
當地時間8月4日，世衛組織總幹事譚德塞表示，富裕國家9月底之前應暫停注射新冠疫苗加強針，以確保每個國家都有至少10%的人口能打上疫苗。
“正如我們所看到的，一個又一個病毒變種出現了。除非全世界一起擺脫病毒，否則我們根本無法徹底擺脫它，”譚德塞的高級顧問布魯斯•艾爾沃德說道，“如今疫苗接種覆蓋率存在巨大差異，我們根本無法擺脫疫情。”
While some rich countries are rolling out third shots, many poorer countries are struggling to procure enough jabs for their people to begin.
High-income countries administered around 100 doses for every 100 people, whereas low-income countries have only been able to provide 1.5 doses per 100 people due to lack of supplies, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who appealed to wealthier countries to help address the huge disparity and ensure that at least 10 percent of the population in every country is vaccinated.
“As we’ve seen from the emergence of variant after variant, we cannot get out of it unless the whole world gets out of it together,” said Dr. Bruce Aylward, a special adviser to Tedros. “And with the huge disparity in vaccination coverage, we are simply not going to be able to achieve that.”