Social media post misleads about Bill Gates’ remark about injecting kids

A TikTok video used a Bill Gates remark out of context to suggest that the Microsoft Corp. co-founder and philanthropist planned the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The video, which was reshared on Facebook, shows clips of   Gates, a frequent target of misinformation, speaking at different events. 

Text at the bottom of the screen resembles the captions that CNN uses in its programming. It says, "Breaking News: Bill Gates Becomes Prime Suspect in COVID Plandemic." 

"Plandemic" refers to the repeatedly debunked claim that the coronavirus pandemic was planned. 

In one of the clips used in the video, Gates said: "We’re taking things that are genetically modified organisms, and we’re injecting them into little kids’ arms." 

It’s repeated near the end of the nearly six-minute video.

The Facebook post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

The clip is from 2015, years before the coronavirus pandemic. It  shows Gates responding to a question about genetically modified food; it was not about injecting children with vaccines.

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In agriculture, a genetically modified organism has had its DNA altered in a way that does not occur in nature. One purpose is to increase the plants’ tolerance to pesticides and herbicides. Opponents of GMOs believe they pose health risks.

In January 2015, Bill and his then-wife Melinda Gates were interviewed by EURACTIV, a Brussels news site focused on European policies. They were asked about the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture in "the developing world."  

Melinda Gates said, "We think you need to have both types of seeds, natural seeds and also GMOs, but we think ultimately it’s up to the Africans to decide."

Bill Gates alluded to the need to test GMOs in food much as testing is done with medicines. He said: 

"The strongest analogy is to medicines. Is there something to worry about with medicines, that might some of them have side effects? Do we need safety testing? We’re taking things that are genetically modified organisms, and we’re injecting them into little kids’ arms; we just shoot them right into the vein. So, yeah, I think maybe we should have a safety system where we do trials and test things out."

Bill Gates spoke years before the pandemic. His comments were not about COVID-19 vaccinations. They were about doing tests on genetically modified organisms in food, similarly to how vaccines are tested before they are used.

We rate the post False.

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