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After all the talk and concerns, hopes and exhortations, Bill Gates arrived this week at a critical juncture in his journey as an outspoken advocate for the science needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic: Microsoft co-founder received his first dose of vaccine against the deadly virus.
Masked with his sleeve in a photo he shared on Twitter on Friday morning, Gates said he received the photo this week and felt good.
One of the perks of being 65 is that I am eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. I got my first dose this week and I feel great. Thank you to all the scientists, trial participants, regulators and frontline healthcare workers who have brought us to this point. pic.twitter.com/67SIfrG1Yd
– Bill Gates (@BillGates) January 22, 2021
At 65, Gates was eligible for the vaccine as part of Phase 1B of Washington State’s Phase 1B vaccine distribution.
In his tweet, Gates thanked those who got us to this point – without thanking himself. The billionaire philanthropist has been a leading advocate for a globally coordinated response to the pandemic since the early days of the crisis a year ago. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for COVID-19 initiatives, including vaccine development and distribution.
Gates, who warned of the possibility of such an outbreak years ago, spent much of 2020 speaking to anyone who would listen to the precautions to be taken to stem the spread of the disease.
As vaccine development proceeded at an unprecedented rate, misinformation around Gates’ treatments and involvement also spread, fueled by social media conspiracy theorists grasping the heightened political polarization in the United States. Melinda Gates told the New York Times that the fact that she and her husband were targeted denoted fear and people seeking to point to someone, something or an institution. The Trump administration has not helped politicize vaccine development, she said.
Among the extravagant theories circulated online, some have said that Gates helped develop vaccines with a microchip that would be implanted in anyone who was injected.
Earlier this week, the two Gates tweeted their willingness to work with President Joe Biden’s administration to tackle America’s toughest challenges – including COVID-19.
Americans across the country working together, more and more people are getting vaccinated against COVID-19 every day, bringing us closer to a time when life will be much more like normal. Until then, we can slow the spread of the virus and save lives by continuing to walk away and wear masks.
– Bill Gates (@BillGates) January 20, 2021
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