Less than a year ago, Dolly Parton donated $ 1 million to her friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, to help develop the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at Vanderbuilt University. On Tuesday, the country music legend told the world she was “getting an injection of her own medicine,” while Abumrad Parton gave her first dose of the vaccine.
Parton tweeted a video of herself getting vaccinated Tuesday saying she and Abumrad have been “friends forever.”
“I thought it was only appropriate for you to give my chance today,” she said.
Tennessee began allowing vaccinations for people 70 and older in early February. Parton is 75.
While getting the vaccine itself was the main goal of the event, Parton didn’t shy away from singing a vaccine-themed version of her hit song “Jolene” in an effort to encourage others to get vaccinated.
“Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I beg you, don’t hesitate,” she sang. “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you’re dead it’s a little too late.”
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center tweeted that “Dolly’s generous support helped fund early research at Vanderbilt Health into what is now a vaccine that will help end the pandemic.”
Parton also used her platform on Tuesday to prick those who may be planning not to get vaccinated.
“I’m old enough to get it and I’m smart enough to get it … The sooner we start to feel better, the sooner we’ll get back to normal,” Parton said. “So I just want to say to you cowards, don’t be such a chicken coop, go out and have a chance.”
Moderna was the second COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in the US and is more than 94% effective in preventing COVID-19 in people receiving both doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.