Microsoft founder Bill Gates warned of pandemics far more serious than Covid-19 and urged governments to set aside billions of dollars to prepare for the next global outbreak, the FT reported.

The philanthropist said that while variants of the Omicron and Delta coronavirus were among the most transmissible viruses ever, and the world may have to face a pathogen that causes much higher rates of death or severe illness.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust UK are giving $300 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, which helped shape the Covax program to deliver vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.

CEPI is trying to raise $3.5 billion to reduce the time it takes to develop a new vaccine to 100 days.

He added that many of the innovations aimed at preparing for a future pandemic could also be useful in solving existing global health problems, such as by creating a vaccine for HIV and more effective vaccinations for tuberculosis and malaria.