F2F Class Notes (Mike)
Reading
Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is the first antiviral medication for Covid which can be taken as a pill rather than injected or given intravenously.
The UK has agreed to purchase 480,000 courses with the first deliveries expected in November.Initially it will be given to both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients through a national study, with extra data on its effectiveness collected before any decision to order more.The drug needs to be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective.
It’s not immediately clear how it will be distributed so quickly by the NHS. It’s thought some care homes may be offered supplies while other elderly or vulnerable patients may be prescribed it by their GP after testing positive for Covid.The new treatment targets an enzyme that the virus uses to make copies of itself, introducing errors into its genetic code. That should prevent it from multiplying, so keeping virus levels low in the body and reducing the severity of the disease.Merck said that approach should make the treatment equally effective against new variants of the virus as it evolves in the future.
The UK regulator, the MHRA, said the tablet had been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate Covid and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness such as obesity, old age, diabetes or heart disease.The organisation’s chief executive, June Raine, described it as “another therapeutic to add to our armoury against Covid-19″.”It is the world’s first approved antiviral for this disease that can be taken by mouth rather than administered intravenously,” she said.
“This is important, because it means it can be administered outside of a hospital setting, before Covid-19 has progressed to a severe stage.”England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, warned on Wednesday of some “hard months to come” in the pandemic.He said that while Covid cases appeared to have stabilised, deaths were rising and there were signs infections were starting to “penetrate” older age groups.
Vocabulary
worship (v) 崇拜
admire (v) 仰慕，崇敬
vanity (n) 虚荣心
stingy (adj.) the opposite of generous 小气的，吝啬的
pay back (v) 回馈
inflation (n) 通货膨胀
impoverished (adj.) poor
Many Chinese grandparents lived in an impoverished time.
I lived in an impoverished area when I was a kid.
most impoverished areas in China are in the Middle/Central and the West
lag behind = backward (adj.)
under-developed areas
less-developed areas
money-worshipper
recycle
secure = safe
security = safety
security check
security guard
donate (v) – donation
Bill Gates donated 1 billion USD to WHO
Bill Gates make an 1 billion USD donation to WHO
digital products = electronics
Speaking exercise
Money-worshiping? 拜金 = show off
you showed off that
you showed off
afford the price
afford something
for some generation
For the young generation
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