南非新冠疫情引发病毒新变种，令人担忧
随着新冠病毒在南非的快速传播，研究人员经发现了一种全新的新冠病毒变种，而该国却苦于无法获得足够的疫苗，难以为全民接种。
新冠病毒变种C.1.2最先于5月在约翰内斯堡和比勒陀利亚（南非首都）所在的省发现。首批发现该病毒的科学家在一篇公开发布的研究论文中指出，尽管该毒株还未被世界卫生组织（World Health Organization）划分为“值得注意的变种”或更加危险的“引发关切的变种”，但它依然可能会提升病毒的传播性和抗体规避能力。
其他变种，包括知名的德尔塔变种，已经在全球未接种人群中造成了严重的危害。至于C.1.2今后将如何演变，以及它将为南非的大量未接种人群带来什么样的影响，还有待继续观察。
《财富》杂志在分析美国疾病控制中心（CDC）的数据后发现，南非已经接种新冠疫苗的人口约为10%。与非洲的很多国家一样，南非苦于无法获得足够的疫苗来为其所有民众接种。尼日利亚和肯尼亚的疫苗接种比例仅为0.7%和1.5%。一边是发达国家开始为民众接种新冠疫苗加强针，另一边是发展中国家仍然苦于疫苗短缺，世界卫生组织也对全球“疫苗不平等”问题提出了批评。
而作为全球“新冠肺炎疫苗实施计划”（COVAX）的一部分，南非已经获得了多个国家的疫苗捐助，例如美国在7月捐赠560万支疫苗基础上，于8月底向南非又捐赠了220万辉瑞（Pfizer）-BioNTech疫苗。非洲联盟（African Union）的特使斯特拉夫·马希依瓦曾经批评发达国家拖延兑现“在2021年年底向非洲提供7亿支疫苗”的目标。
强生（Johnson & Johnson）最近也遭到了猛烈的抨击，原因在于公司将其在南非生产的疫苗出口给欧洲。《华尔街日报》（Wall Street Journal）于9月2日报道称，如今数百万强生疫苗将被撤回，并发放给非洲国家。
南非总人口有6000万，到2021年年底，其目标是为至少67%的人口接种新冠疫苗。约翰内斯堡大学（University of Johannesburg）和人类科学研究理事会（Human Sciences Research Council）旗下发展、能力和道德状况（Developmental, Capable and Ethical State）研究部门的报告称，尽管疫苗接种犹疑人群的数量整体有所下降，但该国却仍然有人依然不愿意接种疫苗。南非国家卫生部（National Department of Health）的报告显示，在8月13日之前接种疫苗的人群当中，仅有40%为男性。
到目前为止，南非是受新冠疫情冲击最严重的非洲国家。截至9月2日，南非新增新冠肺炎确诊病例超过14.4万例，新增死亡病例235例。（财富中文网）
译者：冯丰
审校：夏林
随着新冠病毒在南非的快速传播，研究人员经发现了一种全新的新冠病毒变种，而该国却苦于无法获得足够的疫苗，难以为全民接种。
新冠病毒变种C.1.2最先于5月在约翰内斯堡和比勒陀利亚（南非首都）所在的省发现。首批发现该病毒的科学家在一篇公开发布的研究论文中指出，尽管该毒株还未被世界卫生组织（World Health Organization）划分为“值得注意的变种”或更加危险的“引发关切的变种”，但它依然可能会提升病毒的传播性和抗体规避能力。
其他变种，包括知名的德尔塔变种，已经在全球未接种人群中造成了严重的危害。至于C.1.2今后将如何演变，以及它将为南非的大量未接种人群带来什么样的影响，还有待继续观察。
《财富》杂志在分析美国疾病控制中心（CDC）的数据后发现，南非已经接种新冠疫苗的人口约为10%。与非洲的很多国家一样，南非苦于无法获得足够的疫苗来为其所有民众接种。尼日利亚和肯尼亚的疫苗接种比例仅为0.7%和1.5%。一边是发达国家开始为民众接种新冠疫苗加强针，另一边是发展中国家仍然苦于疫苗短缺，世界卫生组织也对全球“疫苗不平等”问题提出了批评。
而作为全球“新冠肺炎疫苗实施计划”（COVAX）的一部分，南非已经获得了多个国家的疫苗捐助，例如美国在7月捐赠560万支疫苗基础上，于8月底向南非又捐赠了220万辉瑞（Pfizer）-BioNTech疫苗。非洲联盟（African Union）的特使斯特拉夫·马希依瓦曾经批评发达国家拖延兑现“在2021年年底向非洲提供7亿支疫苗”的目标。
强生（Johnson & Johnson）最近也遭到了猛烈的抨击，原因在于公司将其在南非生产的疫苗出口给欧洲。《华尔街日报》（Wall Street Journal）于9月2日报道称，如今数百万强生疫苗将被撤回，并发放给非洲国家。
南非总人口有6000万，到2021年年底，其目标是为至少67%的人口接种新冠疫苗。约翰内斯堡大学（University of Johannesburg）和人类科学研究理事会（Human Sciences Research Council）旗下发展、能力和道德状况（Developmental, Capable and Ethical State）研究部门的报告称，尽管疫苗接种犹疑人群的数量整体有所下降，但该国却仍然有人依然不愿意接种疫苗。南非国家卫生部（National Department of Health）的报告显示，在8月13日之前接种疫苗的人群当中，仅有40%为男性。
到目前为止，南非是受新冠疫情冲击最严重的非洲国家。截至9月2日，南非新增新冠肺炎确诊病例超过14.4万例，新增死亡病例235例。（财富中文网）
译者：冯丰
审校：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.
