American billionaire, Bill Gates, says over 80% of the global population would have to take a vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for it to work as a solution to the pandemic.
Gates, the founder of Microsoft, has been the target of many conspiracy theories alleging that he has sinister motives behind pushing for vaccines for coronavirus, and other diseases.
While some conspiracy theorists allege that he wants to use the pretext of the vaccine to inject people with microchips to track them, some others say it’s part of his evil plan to depopulate the world.
Others have suggested that the virus was deliberately unleashed on the world so that people can make money from selling a cure.
Some of the theories have circulated in Nigeria where 11,516 coronavirus cases have been recorded, killing 323 people.
The billionaire said such outrageous theories could derail efforts to get a majority of the world to take the vaccines and put an end to the coronavirus disease.
He said, “It is troubling that in times like that, and accelerated by digital tools, there is so much craziness.
“Eventually when we have the vaccine, we will want to develop the herd immunity to have over 80 per cent of the population taken.
“If they have heard that it is a plot, or vaccines in general are bad, and we don’t have people willing to take the vaccine, then that will let the disease continue to kill people.
“So it is a bit worrying that there is some of that crazy stuff.”
“We just write cheques to pharma companies (and) we happen to have a lot of the smart pharmaceutical expertise in our foundation, and are considered a fair broker between governments and the companies to help pick the best approach,” he said.
