PBS高端访谈:新规定可能要求在加利福尼亚的儿童接种疫苗

 　　HARI SREENIVASAN, PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND ANCHOR: California is on the verge¹ of requiring more children to get vaccinations², even if parents disagree. The state's assembly passed a bill this week that allowed medical exemptions⁴ but did not allow for exemptions based on personal beliefs.

　　Wall Street Journal reporter Caroline Porter joins me now from Los Angeles with more on this divisive issue.

　　So, put the numbers in perspective. How many kids in the California school system aren't vaccinated⁶?

　　CAROLINE PORTER, WALL STREET JOURNAL: So, it's a small percentage of school children who are not vaccinated. But the concern is that it could be rising. Over the past decade or so, we've seen an increase in parents who are looking at ways to reduce or possibly change the way in which children receive their vaccinations.

　　And the concern is there would be clusters of children where they don't reach what's called herd⁷ immunity⁸, where there aren't 95 percent of the population with the required vaccines⁹ which would make outbreaks more likely.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN: And where are these clusters or what do we know about them?

　　CAROLINE PORTER: So, the clusters seem to be in places with either high educated population or those without — below the poverty line. So it seems to go either — in a situation where there aren't enough resources or where there are such resources that people are taking their own initiative not to vaccinate⁵.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN: So, if this law gets signed by Governor Brown, does this mean that if you have a — if you want a personal belief exemption³, you're going to have to home-school your child?

　　CAROLINE PORTER: Well, that's correct. I mean, basically, that's one of the main concerns that opposers have, is that it's a constitutional right to a free public education in California. So, if I choose not to vaccinate my children, does that mean I have to home-school?

　　And there are a couple of exceptions to that. You can home-school in groups, so families can get together and say, you know, we're going to home-school our children together because they all do not have the same requirements in terms of vaccines.

　　The other option is you can have what's called an independent study in schools. But what that generally means is that you won't be in a classroom with other students by and large.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN: So, if this becomes law, is the opposition¹⁰ ready to sue to try to challenge it?

　　CAROLINE PORTER: So, the opposition has been loud. I mean, in terms of testimony¹¹ and hearings and protests and petitions, from what I hear, it's been one of the most controversial and acrimonious¹² debates that we've had here in California this legislative¹³ session. And talking to different protesters or organizers, what I hear is that they are considering litigation.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN: And where do doctors come down on this? I know some pediatricians' offices will actually refuse to see you in their clinics if you don't vaccinate your child.

　　CAROLINE PORTER: You know, every doctor's going to have a different opinion. But the cosponsor of the bill is a pediatrician himself. And I think that's, you know, one of the main thoughts of his in wanting to put this through is concerns for the population at large and the medical community has had concerns.

　　HARI SREENIVASAN: All right. Caroline Porter of The Wall Street Journal joining us from Los Angeles — thanks so much.

　　CAROLINE PORTER: Thank you.

1 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

2 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

4 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

5 vaccinate   

vt.给…接种疫苗；种牛痘

参考例句：

• Local health officials then can plan the best times to vaccinate people.这样，当地的卫生官员就可以安排最佳时间给人们接种疫苗。
• Doctors vaccinate us so that we do not catch smallpox.医生给我们打预防针使我们不会得天花。

6 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

7 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

8 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

9 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

12 acrimonious   

adj.严厉的，辛辣的，刻毒的

参考例句：

• He had an acrimonious quarrel with his girlfriend yesterday.昨天他跟他的女朋友激烈争吵了一番。
• His parents went through an acrimonious divorce.他的父母在激烈吵吵闹闹中离了婚。

13 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。