Bill Gates, Abu Dhabi prince pledge vaccine funds

[January 28, 2011]  ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Bill Gates' foundation and Abu Dhabi's crown prince are donating $50 million each to vaccinate children in Afghanistan and Pakistan against polio and other diseases.

Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation say two-thirds of the funds will go toward a pair of vaccines against pneumonia, diphtheria, whooping cough and other ailments afflicting young children in Afghanistan. The rest will be given to the World Health Organization and UNICEF to provide polio vaccines in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Gates recently told The Associated Press eradicating polio is his top priority, and that he's planning to announce a major donation to the effort in Davos, Switzerland on Friday.

[Associated Press]

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