Brazilian coronavirus variant 'is a concern' to UK says expert
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The founder of Microsoft claimed former US President Donald Trump did not prepare for a full vaccine roll out to beat coronavirus. Mr Gates also suggested “rich countries” are hoarding jabs which could lead to a resurgent pandemic with variants of COVID-19.
In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria over the weekend, Mr Gates suggested the US vaccine roll out is too slow to beat the pandemic by the end of the year.
He said: “Sadly, the CDC fell short a tiny bit with the initial tasks.
“It’s too bad that the vaccine rollout started under the same sort of ‘denial administration,’ and now it’s harder to get it back in place, but the supply and logistics will not be limiting within about three months here in the United States.”
Mr Gates also praised the creation of a coronavirus vaccine as “a miracle”, despite Mr Trump’s administration pumping funds into the development of jabs with “Operation Warp Speed”.
Critics have suggested the operation, which saw more than $10 billion invested into vaccine research, failed to ensure distribution of jabs.
Mr Gates then suggested vaccines against coronavirus are “just going to rich countries”, leaving the risk open for new variants.
He added: “The big problem is that we’re not doing enough to end the pandemic globally.”
The Microsoft founder then warned the risk of new variants, coupled with potential new waves of infections, means the US “could take all of 2022” to return to normal “unless we do a better job.”
Mr Gates also pointed to additional vaccine factories in Indian and other countries as essential in curbing the risk of infection.
This week, Mr Gates also appeared on social media app Clubhouse to speak to Andrew Ross Sorkin, CNBC anchor, on when restrictions could be lifted in the US.
He said: “It’s only by late spring or summer that we’re going to get to numbers where you can look at changing your behaviour in a significant way.”
Mr Gates also said he will wear a face mask thought the autumn, until infection rates drop significantly, as the practice “isn’t some huge disastrous thing.”
The Microsoft founder also received his second dose of a vaccine in February.
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More than 76 million vaccination doses have been administered in US as of yesterday, covering 15.3 percent of the population.
US President Joe Biden pledged upon taking office to deliver 100 million vaccine doses within his first 100 days in office, with around 1.74 million doses being delivered every day.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May.”
However, the President also acknowledged vaccine supply is an issue, as well as a need to extend its vaccination drive and convince people to take the shots.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House Chief Medical Advisor, said it’s possible Americans will need to continue wearing masks through 2022, during an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
He added: “If you see the level coming down really, really very low, I want it to keep coming down to a baseline that’s so low that…There’s a minimal, minimal threat you’ll be exposed to someone who’s infected.”
The US recorded 63,539 cases and 2,142 deaths yesterday, according to Worldometers.
In total, the US has recorded 29,452,146 cases and 531,464 deaths, both of which are the highest figures in the world.
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