Gates says world should be back to normal by end-2022 due to vaccines

The world should be back to normal by the end of 2022 thanks to COVID-19 vaccines, Bill Gates said in an interview for Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and television broadcaster TVN24.

“This is an incredible tragedy,” the Microsoft co-founder said on the pandemic, adding that the only good news was the access to vaccines.

“By the end of 2022 we should be basically completely back to normal,” Gates said.

Gates, a billionaire who stepped down as chairman of Microsoft Corp in 2014, has through his philanthropic Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed at least $1.75 billion to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes support for some makers of vaccines, diagnostics and potential treatments.

The COVAX facility, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), aims to secure 2 billion vaccine doses for lower income countries by the end of 2021.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second-largest funder of the WHO providing 9.8% of the organisation’s funds after the US, which provides 15 per cent. Sine the early nineties, vaccines have become the Gates Foundation’s biggest investment.

According to Gavi the Gates Foundation plays both a technical and financial role in its efforts to shape vaccine markets. It helps to gather data to inform decision making and provides financial support for market investments.

The Gates Foundation invests in activities ranging from vaccine discovery through development to delivery, and encourages product innovation and new entrants into the market.  Representatives of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations also have a seat on the Gavi board.