Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are the primary source of funding for the UK’s Medicine & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the health regulator that granted emergency authorization for vaccines developed by companies in which Gates has financial interests.
The MHRA also recently approved a new Covid vaccine backed by Gates’ funding called SKYCovion that is approved for people aged 18 and above. The foundation holds significant shares in Pfizer and BioNTech, two major pharmaceutical companies.
In June 2021, the MHRA extended the emergency authorization for Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines to be administered to children between the ages of 12 and 15 in the UK. The decision was based on the agency’s review of clinical trial data, which the Chief Executive, Dr. June Raine, claimed demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine in this age group, with the benefits outweighing any risks. However, critics argue that the statement contradicted the findings of a small-scale study that showed a high rate of adverse reactions among the children involved.