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Southern Africa: Last in line for vaccines, first in line for travel bans
Our work responding to COVID-19
The Vaccine Development & Surveillance team invests in expertise and platform technologies that help us make vaccines faster, better, and cheaper.
The Discovery & Translational Sciences team invests in the development of new, better, more affordable, and more easily disseminated tools that can have transformational impact on global health and development.
COVID-19 FAQ
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How the world needs to respond to a global pandemic
This global crisis requires a shared global response: Collaboration is paramount to overcoming unprecedented challenges and ending the acute phase of COVID-19. Together, we can ensure that safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests are available to every last person on earth—not just those with the ability to pay. The virus does not adhere to borders, and neither should our most effective tools to fight it. A global response must also aim to build more resilient health systems that can quickly identify emerging outbreaks and help protect the world’s most vulnerable people.
There is no such thing as a national solution to a global crisis. All countries must work together to end the pandemic and begin rebuilding economies.
How the Gates Foundation is responding to COVID-19
We remain committed to providing resources and funding to help end the acute COVID-19 crisis around the world. In addition to our more than US$1.9 billion in contributions since the pandemic began, we are working on strategic long-term initiatives, including efforts to address barriers to gender equality and ensure an inclusive and equitable economic recovery.
Gender equality and COVID-19
COVID-19 has greatly affected not only low-and middle-income economies, but the gender divide in employment continues to grow. The International Labour Organization reports that women's employment worldwide should have 13 million less jobs after the pandemic, when compared to 2019. Conversely, men's employment is estimated to mostly recover to 2019 levels.
Childcare during COVID-19
Current needs in the post-COVID-19 landscape means that expanding international quality child care programs can help alleviate poverty, increase education opportunities, and help create 43 million jobs worldwide.
