Bill Gates Calls For More Global Coordination To Fight Covid ‘Health Crisis’

Breaking Business Bill Gates Calls For More Global Coordination To Fight Covid ‘Health Crisis’ Siladitya Ray Forbes Staff Covering breaking news and tech policy stories at Forbes. New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Got it! Aug 16, 2022, 09:24am EDT | Updated Aug 16, 2022, 09:50am EDT Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Billionaire Bill Gates on Tuesday called for better cooperation among countries to fight the global health “crisis” brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, a plea that comes as vaccine access in low-income countries remains uneven as developed nations look to roll out booster shots and pull back on restrictions.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates talks with South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo . . .

[+] during their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Key Facts Speaking at South Korea’s National Assembly, Gates said there was a need to “build more partnerships” to help resolve multiple global health challenges including Covid, malaria, measles and polio, the Associated Press reported. The Microsoft co-founder called on South Korea to take leadership on the issue and said its pledge to donate $200 million to the U.

N-backed COVAX vaccine sharing program will help tackle the inequality fighting Covid-19. Gates’ philanthropy group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will expand its partnership with South Korea’s government to help with global disease eradication efforts. After addressing South Korean legislators, Gates also met with the country’s president Yoon Suk-yeol where they discussed the development of South Korea’s own Covid-19 vaccine developed in partnership with Gates’ foundation.

Last month, Gates told Forbes that the Covid-19 pandemic remains “worse than people realize. ” Big Number 20. 7%.

That is the percentage of people in low-income countries who have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data. In comparison, the number for high-income countries stands at 83%. Surprising Fact The pharmaceutical unit of South Korea’s second-largest business conglomerate SK is currently developing a Covid-19 vaccine, with support from the Gates foundation.

The vaccine developed by SK Bioscience is in the form of a nasal spray which would be significantly easier to administer, especially in countries which have poor healthcare infrastructure. Key Background The Gates Foundation has so far donated around $1. 5 billion to help fund efforts to fight the pandemic.

This includes more than $200 million in funding to the Gavi, which helms the COVAX vaccine distribution program. The Gates’ foundation has also pledged $300 in funding to Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), to both help fight Covid and prepare for future pandemics. Last month, the billionaire announced he was donating $20 billion of his personal wealth to the foundation he co-runs with his ex-wife Melinda.

Further Reading Gates eyes partnership with South Korea over global health (Forbes) Yoon, Bill Gates discuss vaccine development, cooperation (Yonhap News Agency) Follow me on Twitter . Send me a secure tip . Siladitya Ray Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.