Bill Gates Warns of Pandemic Risk: "COVID-19 Vaccine Possible Within a Year at Earliest"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Microsoft (MS) founder Bill Gates predicted that it would take 1 to 2 years to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Gates also expressed his intention to devote the capabilities of the world's largest charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to COVID-19.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 26th (local time), Gates appeared on the American CNN program "Fareed Zakaria GPS" and said, "If almost everything goes perfectly, mass production of the (vaccine) can begin within a year." However, he added, "It could take up to 2 years," noting that "time may be required for the Phase 3 clinical trial results to determine whether the vaccine has side effects."

However, Gates emphasized that efforts to suppress the spread of infection within the United States must be made until the vaccine is developed. He argued that for the lifting of lockdowns being discussed in the U.S. to take place, sufficient diagnostic capacity and the ability to trace new confirmed cases must be secured.

Gates warned, "If (some states) resume economic activities, the number of confirmed cases will increase exponentially, recreating a situation comparable to New York." He projected that the U.S. would need diagnostic capacity of about 400,000 to 500,000 tests per day to enable tracing of new confirmed cases.

In another media interview, Gates also revealed plans to devote the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's capabilities to COVID-19.

He emphasized, "The foundation has so far focused on acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV), malaria, and polio, but now everyone is concentrating on COVID-19," adding, "Even personnel unrelated to health are focusing on online learning and other areas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.