Bill Gates and RFK Jr. ‘Agree to Disagree’ on Vaccines

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s leading philanthropists, has confirmed that he recently met U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the first time.

In an interview with Reuters, Gates said the pair “agreed to disagree” on vaccines, highlighting a sharp divide between Kennedy, a longtime skeptic of vaccine safety, and Gates, who has championed immunization for decades.

Gates expressed concern that U.S. skepticism about vaccines is spreading abroad, particularly to low-income countries where diseases like measles can be far more deadly.

“Over 1,000 kids get measles in the United States, you might have three or four deaths. In Africa, you’ll have 300 deaths,” he said.

The remarks came as the Gates Foundation pledged $912 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, matching its 2022 commitment.

Since its founding in 2000, the foundation has invested billions into vaccines, maternal health, and child survival programs, becoming one of the most influential players in global health.

While Gates and Kennedy remain divided on immunization policy, Gates stressed he is open to working together on other areas of global health and research where their priorities overlap.