Bill Gates
Microsoft founder and charity co-chairman Bill Gates has called for preparing for new pandemics and taking them as seriously as a potential military conflict. This statement was included in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's annual message published by The Seattle Times.
The billionaire expressed the opinion that the world must take serious steps to be ready for the next pandemic. He considered it wise to invest billions in the development of science, testing, and the creation of a global warning system for new outbreaks of diseases. He also noted the importance of forming a special “response team”. “Think of them as [a kind of] pandemic fire brigade. Like firefighters, these highly skilled professionals must be ready to respond to a potentially crisis situation as soon as it becomes known, ”he explained his plan to combat such phenomena.
Gates noted that in the absence of risks of a new pandemic, members of such a team should focus on increasing their competencies. He also suggested holding regular exercises for them, similar to the military ones.
“To avoid the difficulties we faced last year, preparing for a pandemic must be taken as seriously as a [potential] military conflict,” the billionaire said.
Gates and his wife, Melinda, own their own charitable foundation and annually publish messages that indicate the organization's achievements and plans for the future. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is focused on tackling dangerous diseases in developing countries, as well as various healthcare and education programs in the United States. To date, the fund has allocated about $ 1.75 billion to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier it was reported that Bill Gates was vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. “One of the benefits of being 65 is that I can get the COVID-19 vaccine. I got my first dose this week and I feel great. Thank you to all the scientists, trial participants, regulators and healthcare professionals at the forefront of the battle for bringing us to this moment, ”he wrote on his Twitter.
