Bill Gates Calls COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Theories 'Stupid'

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Conspiracy theories stating that Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, is behind a plot to use COVID-19 vaccines to implant microchips into people are floating around. Gates has shrugged off these theories stating they're "almost hard to deny" as they're "so stupid."

Misinformation surrounding Gates' involvement in a COVID-19 vaccine has been circulating, and a Yahoo News/YouGov poll found in late May that 28% of American citizens said they believed the theories.

Eighty percent of people will have to take the vaccine for it to be effective

As per Gates, 80% of people will have to take the COVID-19 vaccine in order for it to work effectively and eradicate the virus. However, there may be more than 20% of people who are against taking vaccines, claiming conspiracy theories against them.

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Gates said that he finds the prospect "worrying."

For a vaccine to work effectively at blocking out a virus a high number of people have to take it so that the vast majority are immune to it and the disease no longer spreads.

Gates' comments come at a time when the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine human trials are underway, but these may prove moot if more than 20% of people worldwide either don't want to take it or can't.

There will always be a percentage of people who can't take a vaccine, for instance, those whose immune systems don't work such as cancer patients. So trying to get as many healthy candidates to take a vaccine is important if its to work efficiently.

Experts say that at least two thirds of people have to take the COVID-19 vaccine in order for it to properly stop another pandemic.

However, anti-vaxxers are against taking vaccines for themselves and their children as conspiracy theories point towards them being harmful or used only for money.

Gates, who is a proponent of vaccines and has donated $250 million towards finding a coronavirus vaccine through his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said on Radio 4 in the U.K. "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 percent of the population taken."

He continued "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."

One of the theories surrounding Gates at the moment claims that he is pushing for a COVID-19 vaccine so as to implant chips into people to monitor them.

Gates is astonished at these claims and said on Radio 4, "I'm kind of surprised that some of that is focused on me. We are just giving money away to get there to be a tool."

In the meantime, COVID-19 vaccine trials continue.

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