--- title: "Bill Gates: Vaccine Hesitancy Makes Measles Eradication Impossible" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/health/bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-makes-measles-eradication-impossible" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-makes-measles-eradication-impossible" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-makes-measles-eradication-impossible.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-makes-measles-eradication-impossible" category: "Health" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-15T15:25:26.653Z" source_reported: "2026-09-15T13:23:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-15T15:25:26.653Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 77 hype_score: 28 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-15T16:08:28.993Z" --- # Bill Gates: Vaccine Hesitancy Makes Measles Eradication Impossible *Philanthropist states that achieving over 95 percent vaccination coverage is crucial to prevent outbreaks.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Trust 42 because source named Bill Gates (+12) but no independent outlets or documents (+0). - Craft 77 of 100, higher is better. Critic 77 for clear context, specific figures, and coherent story, though lacking multiple quotes. - Hype 28 of 100, lower is better. Hype 28 reflects mild emphasis with emotive phrasing but no sensational claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Bill Gates stated that vaccine hesitancy in rich countries makes eradicating measles currently impossible. - Historically, measles caused approximately two million child deaths each year before vaccination efforts. - Achieving vaccination coverage above 95 percent is necessary to prevent measles epidemics, according to Gates. - Measles is re-emerging in areas where it was previously nearly eliminated. Bill Gates told Reuters that vaccine hesitancy in wealthy countries means measles cannot currently be eradicated as a global public health threat. He noted that the disease, which historically killed around two million children annually before vaccinations reduced deaths, is now spreading again in countries where it had been nearly eliminated. Gates emphasised that achieving vaccination coverage above 95 percent is crucial to prevent measles epidemics. ## Coverage comparison The right-rated digests focused on Bill Gates's statement that vaccine hesitancy in rich countries is preventing the eradication of measles. They reported that this hesitancy has put the goal out of reach and means ending measles as a global public health threat is not currently possible. These digests also noted Gates's assertion that wiping out the disease had been a goal for his foundation. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the historical figure of two million child deaths per year attributed to measles, a detail provided by unrated outlets. The specific figure of 95 percent vaccination coverage required to prevent epidemics was also not mentioned in the right-rated digests. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 10% (1) - Centre: 20% (2) - Right: 70% (7) 12 of 22 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-15T16:08:28.993Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-15T16:30:18.860Z. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 7 - unknown: 12 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Večernji list](https://vecernji.hr/vijesti/bill-gates-ospice-trenutno-nije-moguce-iskorijeniti-1995495) — Bill Gates: Measles Cannot Be Eradicated at This Time - [ARY News](https://arynews.tv/wiping-out-measles-impossible-due-to-vaccine-hesitancy-in-rich-countries-says-gates) — Wiping out measles impossible due to vaccine hesitancy in rich countries, says Gates - [dnews.gr](https://dnews.gr/eidhseis/kosmos/610340/bil-geits-i-eksaleipsi-tis-ilaras-den-einai-pleon-efikti-logo-tis-distaktikotitas-enanti-ton-emvolion) — Bill Gates: Eradicating Measles Is No Longer Possible Due to Vaccine Hesitancy - [Cyprus Mail](https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/09/15/gates-says-vaccine-hesitancy-has-put-measles-eradication-out-of-reach) — Gates says vaccine hesitancy has put measles eradication out of reach - [poslovni.hr](https://poslovni.hr/svijet/bill-gates-upozorava-nekoc-su-ubijale-dva-milijuna-djece-godisnje-sada-se-ponovno-sire-europom-i-sad-om-4554792) — Bill Gates Warns: They Once Killed Two Million Children a Year, Now They Are Spreading Again in Europe and the US - [regionalmedianews.com](https://regionalmedianews.com/news/national/health/wiping-out-measles-impossible-due-to-vaccine-hesitancy-in-rich-countries-says-gates) — Wiping out measles impossible due to vaccine hesitancy in rich countries, says Gates - Regional Media News - [glasistre.hr](https://glasistre.hr/svijet/2026/09/15/ospice-ponovno-prijete-svijetu-pomalo-je-tragicno-sto-smo-odustali-od-njihova-iskorjenjivanja-1085040) — Measles Threatens the World Again: "It's a Bit Tragic that We've Given up on Eradicating It" - [CNN Greece](https://cnn.gr/kosmos/story/552368/bil-geits-den-einai-pleon-efikti-i-eksaleipsi-tis-ilaras-tritos-thanatos-stin-pensilvania) — Bill Gates: Eradicating Measles Is No Longer Possible - Third Death in Pennsylvania - [Pentapostagma](https://pentapostagma.gr/ygeia/7389786_synagermos-gia-tin-ilara-proeidopoiei-o-mpil-gkeits-hanoyme-ti-mahi-me-tin-exaleipsi) — Measles Alert: Bill Gates Warns - "We Are Losing the Battle to Eradicate It" - [news4health.gr](https://news4health.gr/ygeia/ilara-i-distaktikotita-enanti-ton-emvolion-sampotarei-tin-eksaleipsi-tis-proeidopoiei-o-geits) — Measles: Vaccine Hesitancy Sabotages Its Eradication, Gates Warns - [flash.gr](https://flash.gr/kampanaki-apo-ton-mpil-gkeits-gia-tin-ilara-giati-i-exaleipsi-tis-astheneias-apomakrynetai-1081324) — Bill Gates' "Bell" on Measles - Why Eradication of the Disease Is Moving Away - [Iefimerida](https://iefimerida.gr/kosmos/epidimia-ilaras-stin-pensilbania) — Measles Epidemic in Pennsylvania: Eradication Not Possible Due to Vaccine Hesitancy, Says Bill Gates - iefimerida.gr - [Ελεύθερος Τύπος](https://eleftherostypos.gr/ygeia-epistimi/bil-gkeits-i-exaleipsi-tis-ilaras-den-einai-pleon-efikti-logo-tis-distaktikotitas-enanti-ton-emvolion) — Bill Gates: Eradicating Measles Is No Longer Possible Due to Vaccine Hesitancy - [Newsit.gr](https://newsit.gr/ygeia/mpil-gkeits-i-distaktikotita-apenanti-sta-emvolia-apomakrynei-tin-eksaleipsi-tis-ilaras/4774701) — Bill Gates: Vaccine Hesitancy Is Pushing Measles Eradication Further Away - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/legal/litigation/wiping-out-measles-impossible-due-vaccine-hesitancy-rich-countries-says-gates-2026-09-15) — Wiping out measles impossible due to vaccine hesitancy in ... - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/health/3977252-bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-in-rich-nations-derails-measles-eradication-goals) — Bill Gates: Vaccine Hesitancy in Rich Nations Derails Measles Eradication Goals - [Jerusalem Post](https://jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-908613) — Bill Gates: Anti-vaccine attitudes in rich countries makes herd immunity for measles impossible - [vecernji.ba](https://vecernji.ba/svijet/bill-gates-digao-ruke-zbog-otpora-cijepljenju-vise-nije-moguce-iskorijeniti-opasnu-bolest-1995372) — BILL GATES RAISES HIS HANDS: Due to Resistance to Vaccination, It Is No Longer Possible to Eradicate a Dangerous Disease - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/gates-ne-mozemo-iskorijeniti-ospice-ljudi-u-bogatim-zemljama-se-ne-zele-cijepiti/2834492.aspx) — In Poor Countries, Children Are Vaccinated, in Rich Ones They Are Not. Gates Has Given up on the Fight Against Measles - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/europe/wiping-out-measles-impossible-due-to-vaccine-hesitancy-in-rich-countries-says-bill-gates) — Wiping out measles impossible due to vaccine hesitancy in rich countries, says Bill Gates - [Emirates24|7](https://emirates247.com/health/gates-says-measles-eradication-now-impossible-as-vaccine-hesitancy-rises-in-rich-countries/5642) — Gates Says Measles Eradication Now Impossible as Vaccine Hesitancy Rises in Rich Countries - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/15/wiping-out-measles-impossible-due-to-vaccine-hesitancy-in-rich-countries-says-gates) — Wiping out measles impossible due to vaccine hesitancy in rich countries, says Gates ## Questions **Why is measles eradication currently impossible?** Bill Gates stated that vaccine hesitancy in wealthy countries makes eradicating measles impossible. He explained that achieving vaccination coverage above 95 percent is crucial to prevent epidemics, and this level is not currently being met in richer nations. **How many children did measles historically kill each year?** Before the widespread use of vaccinations, measles was responsible for the deaths of approximately two million children each year. This historical toll highlights the disease's severity and the impact of vaccination programmes. **What percentage of vaccination coverage is needed to prevent measles epidemics?** According to Bill Gates, achieving vaccination coverage above 95 percent is crucial to prevent measles epidemics. This high level of immunity within a population is necessary to stop the widespread transmission of the virus. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-makes-measles-eradication-impossible. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Bill Gates: Vaccine Hesitancy Makes Measles Eradication Impossible", https://mediabias.news/health/bill-gates-vaccine-hesitancy-makes-measles-eradication-impossible