Dolly Parton Proud to Donate for Moderna Vaccine
In April 2020, American country musician, businessperson and humanitarian Dolly Parton donated $1 Million (£750,000) to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, the trial site for the Moderna pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 vaccine. Closely following Pfizer & BioNTech’s announcement on their collaborative COVID-19 vaccine’s 90% success rate, Moderna has revealed that their vaccine is 94% effective based on early information.
Speaking to BBC One’s “The One Show” co-presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas, Parton exclaimed about her pride for having donated to the cause and her excitement about hearing the great news. Parton’s donation is being used for multiple purposes including early Moderna vaccine trials, and convalescent plasma study and research with antibody therapies – convalescent plasma is used to treat COVID-19 patients.
John Howser, the spokesperson for the Vanderbilt Medical Center told BBC News in reference to Parton’s donation, “Her gift provided support for a pilot convalescent plasma study that one of our researchers was able to successfully complete.” He continued on to say, “Funds from Dolly’s gift are also supporting very promising research into monoclonal antibodies that act as a temporary vaccine for Covid. Two of these antibodies are now being tested by a global pharmaceutical firm.”
Dolly Parton is known for her philanthropy and humanitarian efforts for issues including child literacy through her Dollywood Foundation, and providing support for wildlife and HIV/Aids.
Credit: David Crotty/Getty Images
