Gates pledges £6bn to 'make this the decade of vaccines'

MICROSOFT founder Bill Gates yesterday announced he will give £6 billion over the next decade to research new vaccines and bring them to the world's poorest countries.

Calling upon governments and business to also contribute, Mr Gates and his wife Melinda said the money will produce higher immunisation rates and help to ensure that 90 per cent of children are protected against diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia in poorer nations.

"We must make this the decade of vaccines," he said at the Davos economic forum. "Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children."

Mr Gates said the commitment more than doubles the 6bn the foundation he and his wife set up has given to vaccine research over the years. The foundation said up to 7.6 million children under five could be saved by 2019 as a result of the donation. It also estimates that an additional 1.1 million would be saved if a malaria vaccine can be introduced by 2014.