World Health Organization and Bill Gates have not asked military to 'round up mRNA vaccine refusers'

What is the claim?

Multiple posts circulating on social media have claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) and American business magnate Bill Gates have called for the military to forcefully detain individuals who refuse mRNA vaccines during a bird flu pandemic.

The posts have shared a screenshot of an article headline that reads, "Bill Gates and WHO call for military to round up mRNA vaccine refusers during bird flu pandemic."

One such Facebook post (archived here) sharing the screenshot stated, "This is why all these young single fighting aged immigrants are flooding the country. they are the un soldiers ready to go to war against the public." Archived versions of similar posts are here, here, and here. 

Screenshots of posts circulating online. (Source: X/Facebook/Screenshots/Modified by Logically Facts.)

The claims are being made in light of the WHO's announcement on July 29, 2024, which launched a new initiative to advance the development of mRNA vaccines against human avian influenza (H5N1).

However, the claim that WHO and Bill Gates have called for the military to round up against mRNA vaccine refusers is false and unsubstantiated.  

What are the facts?

The claim stems from an article published on August 1, 2024, by The People's Voice (archived here), a Los Angeles-based clickbait website known for spreading fake claims and conspiracy theories. The article alleges that "Gates and the WHO have ordered governments to lay the groundwork to mobilize the military because they claim that vaccine skepticism is 'morally reprehensible' and vaccine refusal is an 'act of aggression' that must be met with force." 

We reviewed The People's Voice article and found no evidence to support its claim. The article quotes conspiracy theories linked to the New World Order, falsely claiming that elites and organizations like WHO will take control of the human population, further undermining its credibility. 

WHO has no power to detain people for refusing vaccines

The WHO holds no power to mobilize any military against people who refuse to take a vaccine. The draft of the Pandemic Preparedness Treaty notes, "Nothing in the WHO Pandemic Agreement shall be interpreted as providing the WHO Secretariat, including the WHO Director-General, any authority to direct, order, alter or otherwise prescribe the national and/or domestic laws, as appropriate, or policies of any Party, or to mandate or otherwise impose any requirements that Parties take specific actions, such as ban or accept travellers, impose vaccination mandates or therapeutic or diagnostic measures or implement lockdowns." 

Moreover, the WHO has not declared bird flu (H5N1) a pandemic.

The WHO's Director of Communications, Gabby Stern, responded to a similar claim on X (formerly Twitter): "This is a lie, a dangerous one. It's a tragedy that lies about science and health are pushed so wantonly while people try their best to make considered decisions about their health and their family's health." An archive of her post is here.

Screenshot of the response posted by WHO's Director of Communications. (Source: X/Gabby Stern)

The director of WHO Epidemic & Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, also refuted (archived here) the claim. She wrote, "Fact Check: I am working directly on #H5N1 with incredible scientists from all around the world. Lies are spreading on social media. @WHO has no power to detain anyone. Claims that WHO is working with governments to do this are false and dangerous." 

The 'X post' by Bill Gates is fake

The People's Voice article included an image of a supposed X post by Bill Gates, which says, "Vaccine refuseniks will feel the full weight of the law." However, this post appears to be fake. A search of Bill Gates's official X account revealed no such posts. Additionally, a Google search yielded no credible media reports of Gates making such statements.

Bill Gates has been regularly falsely linked to various conspiracy theories, including claims that he created the COVID-19 pandemic, that he admitted climate change is a scam, or that mRNA vaccines are ineffective, and many more.

Logically Facts also contacted the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for comment, which called the claim "false."

Furthermore, Avian influenza, or bird flu, primarily affects birds but can occasionally infect humans through contact with the virus. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, and the WHO states the likelihood of sustained spread is low. In June 2024, Finland offered preemptive bird flu vaccinations to workers exposed to animals. However, currently, there are no approved bird flu vaccines for humans, though candidate vaccines for A(H5) have been developed for pandemic preparedness. 

Logically Facts has debunked multiple similar false narratives published by The People's Voice. You can read them here, here, and here. 

The verdict

There is no evidence to corroborate the claim that Bill Gates and the WHO have called for the military to detain people for refusing the mRNA vaccine during the bird flu pandemic. The claim has stemmed from a website known to spread misinformation. 

(Update: This check has been updated to include a response from the Bill and Melinda Foundation.)