But it’s a topic he knows well.

Sridhar’s final question may have been the one most people wanted to ask.

When will the pandemic be over?

“How and when will the pandemic be over?”

“Does omicron show that we can ‘live with COVID’?

Or are other dangerous variants around the corner in 2022?”

Final question- what everyone wants to know -> how and when will the pandemic be over?

Does omicron show that we can live with COVID?

Or are other dangerous variants around the corner in 2022?

Gates noted the grim effects of the omicron variant, especially on the unvaccinated.

“As countries experience their omicron wave health systems will be challenged.

Most of the severe cases will be unvaccinated people,” he wrote.

But there’s hope.

As countries experience their Omicron wave health systems will be challenged.

Most of the severe cases will be unvaccinated people.

Is there a worse variant after omicron?

And is there an even more-contagious variant lurking somewhere after omicron?

Gates doesn’t think so, but isn’t ready to bet the farm on it.

“Omicron will create a lot of immunity at least for the next year.

We may have to take yearly shots for COVID for some time.”

A more transmissive variant is not likely but we have been surprised a lot during this pandemic.

Omicron will create a lot of immunity at least for the next year.

@trvrbtracks the genetics really well.

We may have to take yearly shots for Covid for some time.

Origins of COVID-19

Andwhere did the COVID-19 virus come from?

That’s a hotly debated topic.

“People will continue to speculate on this and we should ensure labs are careful.

There will be future outbreaks coming from other species so we need to invest in being ready.”

The data is pretty strong that it came from another species which is true for most pandemics.

People will continue to speculate on this and we should ensure labs are careful.

There will be future outbreaks coming from other species so we need to invest in being ready.

‘Why would I want to’ put chips in arms?

Sridhar also asked Gates about theconspiracy theories and misinformation about the pandemic.

He’s been at the heart of plenty of false coronavirus rumors.

Even his oldest daughter,Jennifer, has joked about them.

And he expressed bewilderment at one of the more bizarre conspiracy theories.

“I didn’t expect that.

People like you and I and Tony Fauci have been subject to a lot of misinformation.

I didn’t expect that.

“First they still allow infections (‘breakthrough’) and the duration feels like limited.

We need vaccines that prevent re-infection and have many years of duration.”

“They were able to limit deaths dramatically.

Once the numbers get large in a country it is too late.

So the first few months made a lot of difference.”

A few countries like Australia moved fast to diagnose cases at scale and isolate people who were infected.

They were able to limit deaths dramatically.

Once the numbers get large in a country it is too late.

So the first few months made a lot of difference.

But even then, he was optimistic that the omicron wave could burn itself out in three months.