The fight to eradicate HIV is far from over, but incredible progress has been made through scientific innovation, activism, and collective global action. These lessons provide a path forward with COVID-19 and hope for preventing the next pandemic. https://t.co/ztb8d6BHZP

ICYMI here’s a recap of my conversation with @devisridhar. We chatted about this pandemic, how to prevent the next one, and a few things in between. https://t.co/UKOGoXm9EL

Thanks @devisridhar for taking the time today to discuss omicron, vaccines, and how the world can come together to prevent the next pandemic. https://t.co/WY5P7xluwe

RT @devisridhar: @BillGates Agree 100%- next gen vaccines with sterilising immunity. 2nd question: What are the current challenges in reaching global vaccination access? What are the obstacles?

I'm excited to talk with @DeviSridhar today about her work at the University of Edinburgh Medical School and @GlobalHealthGP, and to answer some of your questions about what we’ve been learning recently about the pandemic. #

Through my foundation work I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to talk to—and learn from—experts in many different fields. Many of my conversations recently have been about the omicron variant and how to prevent the next pandemic. https://t.co/jYR0KjX4Cx

Understanding how the connections in our brains give rise to consciousness and our ability to learn may help lead to great breakthroughs in the way we solve the world’s hardest problems. This is one of the most fascinating books I read this year. https://t.co/UaSQV1jbBg

.@WalterIsaacson is one of my favorite authors. I was eager to read his latest book about CRISPR and its inventor Jennifer Doudna: https://t.co/qD9QASvwHx https://t.co/ZiWiKjVjCq

Heroes like @PumlaNtlabati are spreading important information, and hope, across South Africa with the help of an unusual and innovative tool: https://t.co/vBSMvpv6Lt https://t.co/euBp7fM2PF

We have some, but not all, of the tools we need to hit our target of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees. We need to prioritize closing that gap if we’re going to avoid a climate disaster: https://t.co/h6wqiZVgph https://t.co/Mj3df3OVl0

The world has lost a hero. Archbishop Desmond Tutu led with his values, empathy and optimism. He put everyone he met at ease with his incredible laugh and energy. He inspired me with his sense of purpose to build peace out of the struggle of oppression. I will miss him greatly.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is sharing books with family and friends. Here are 5 books I loved reading this year: https://t.co/lhvffVsmgC

Mamello Makhele is a hero from Lesotho who traveled by foot and donkey to bring health services to women in need during the pandemic. Her story is nothing short of inspiring: https://t.co/UyI4x0VxhK https://t.co/3MLP5nvm5l

I know it’s frustrating to go into another holiday season with COVID looming over us. But it won’t be like this forever. Someday the pandemic will end, and the better we look after each other, the sooner that time will come.

If there’s good news here, it’s that omicron moves so quickly that once it becomes dominant in a country, the wave there should last less than 3 months. Those few months could be bad, but I still believe if we take the right steps, the pandemic can be over in 2022.

There will be more breakthrough cases in people who are vx’d, which sounds concerning but is purely a factor of how many people are vx’d and how fast this variant is spreading. Vaccines are designed to prevent people from getting seriously ill or dying & are doing that well.

In the meantime, we all have to look out for each other, especially the most vulnerable, whether they live down the street or in another country. That means wearing masks, avoiding big indoor gatherings, and getting vaccinated. Getting a booster gives the best protection.

The big unknown is how sick omicron makes you. We need to take it seriously until we know more about it. Even if it’s only half as severe as delta, it will be the worst surge we have seen so far because it’s so infectious.

Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world.

Just when it seemed like life would return to normal, we could be entering the worst part of the pandemic. Omicron will hit home for all of us. Close friends of mine now have it, and I’ve canceled most of my holiday plans.