By now, Bill Gates' philanthropy efforts are well known, but the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft may have still managed to surprise a few people by promising to donate $10 billion (through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) over the next decade to fund new vaccines to fight diseases in poor countries around the globe.
"We must make this the decade of vaccines," Bill Gates said at the press conference to announce the donation. "Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before."
The $10 billion pledge comes in addition to $4.5 billion the foundation has already tossed towards the research, development, and launching of vaccines, CNet reports. With the $10 billion in additional funding, Gates believes there's a good shot at turning around the childhood mortality rate by the end of the decade.
"We've made vaccines our No. 1 priority at the Gates Foundation because we've seen first hand their incredible impact on children's lives," Melinda Gates added.
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