Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates revealed his predictions regarding the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused the deaths of 6,235,027 people worldwide, in a press interview. In an interview with CNBC on Friday, Gates stated that the risks of contracting COVID-19 have significantly decreased, noting the possibility of a new pandemic arising from a virus different from coronavirus.
Gates added, "Advancements in medical technology will enable the world to combat the next pandemic if investments and preparations are made now." He continued, "There will be another pandemic, and the pathogen will be different next time."
Gates explained that two years after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, its worst effects have faded, as a significant portion of the global population has gained a certain level of immunity, along with the diminished severity due to the latest variant, Omicron. He pointed out that "it is already too late to reach the World Health Organization's goal of vaccinating 70% of the world’s population by mid-2022, as 61.9% of the global population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine."
He urged the world to act faster in the future to develop and distribute vaccines, calling on governments to invest more in this area. Gates concluded by saying, "The cost of preparing for the next pandemic is not high. If we are rational, we will be able to contain the effects of that pandemic in a short time."
Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates had previously partnered with the Wellcome Trust in the UK to donate $300 million to support innovations in pandemic preparedness, which contributed to the formation of the COVAX program to provide vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.
