Bill Gates ready to ‘waste’ billions on coronavirus vaccine

Bill Gates says he is willing to ‘waste’ billions of dollars to build factories to manufacture and test seven possible coronavirus vaccines.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Picture: AFP

Bill Gates says he is willing to “waste” billions of dollars to build factories to manufacture and test seven possible coronavirus vaccines.

The billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder said the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s plan was essential to build the manufacturing capacity required and ensure a proven vaccine was developed and in production within 18 months.

“Even though we’ll end up picking at most two of them, we’re going to fund factories for all seven just so we don’t waste time in serially saying ‘OK, which vaccine works?’ and then building the factory,” Mr Gates said.

“It’ll be a few billion dollars we’ll waste on manufacturing for the constructs that don’t get picked because something else is better.’’

The Times