Microsoft founder and one of the world's wealthiest men Bill Gates has announced that he will be donating $10 billion over the next decade to fund vaccines for people in poor nations. Yes, you read that right - BILLION. Gates and his wife Melinda announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that they will be making the contribution through their foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

"We must make this the decade of vaccines," Bill Gates said in a statement. "Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before."

The amount is nearly double what his foundation has contributed to vaccines in the past - around $4.5 billion. According to the foundation, this money could save up to 7.6 million children under the age of 5 by the time 2019 rolls around. It also estimates an additional 1.1 million kids would be saved if a malaria vaccine is introduced in the next four years. A tuberculosis vaccine would be another tool in preventing millions of deaths.

The announcement comes almost a full year after Gates released a jar of mosquitoes on a roomful of TED attendees to emphasize the importance of finding a vaccine for malaria.

"Vaccines are a miracle," said Melinda Gates. "With just a few doses, they can prevent deadly diseases for a lifetime."

All we can say is - wow. And, thank you, Bill and Melinda! Ten billion dollars can go a very, very long way when properly distributed, and this extremely generous contribution will save millions of childrens' lives.

via AP